Rumex acetosella L.
Common Sheep Sorrel
Sheep's sorrel is a small, slender native perennial in the dock family, much daintier than common sorrel. Its narrow leaves are distinctively shaped, with a pair of spreading basal lobes that give them a look rather like a tiny halberd or arrowhead.
About
Sheep's sorrel is a small, slender native perennial in the dock family, much daintier than common sorrel. Its narrow leaves are distinctively shaped, with a pair of spreading basal lobes that give them a look rather like a tiny halberd or arrowhead. It spreads by creeping underground rhizomes to form patches, and in summer throws up wiry, often reddish stems bearing airy spikes of minute flowers that turn a warm reddish-brown, tinting bare ground with rusty colour.
It is a reliable indicator of acid, sandy or impoverished soils, growing on heaths, dry grassland, sandy banks, old walls, arable margins and disturbed or open ground throughout Britain. Tough and persistent, it tolerates poor, dry conditions where little else thrives, and is sometimes regarded as a weed of acid soils. The leaves share the lemony tang of true sorrel, and the plant is a food source for the caterpillars of the small copper butterfly.
Also known as
Field Dock, Sheep-sorrel, Red-sorrel · Field Sorrel · Red Sorrel · Redweed · Sheep Sorrel · Sheep's Sorrel · Sheep's Sorrel agg. · Sheep’s sorrel · Sorrel · sourweed
Synonyms
? vulgaris · Acetosella multifida pyrenaica · Acetosella tenuifolia · Pauladolphia acetosella · Rumex acetosella acetosella · Rumex acetosella procurrens · Rumex acetosella pyrenaicus · Rumex acetosella vulgaris · Rumex multifidus vulgaris · Rumex tenuifolius
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.