Weeds > Rumex > Rumex acetosella > Rumex acetosella
Rumex acetosella
Sheep's Sorrel, Red Sorrel, Sour Weed and Field Sorrel
Origin: Native to the British Isles but fond as an introduced species throughout the northern hemisphere.
| Family |
| Polygonaceae |
| Genus |
| Rumex |
| Species |
| acetosella |
| Category |
| Weeds |
Photographs
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Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A common, perennial garden weed that sprouts from an aggressive rhizome. Often one of the first plant species to colonise disturbed areas. The leaves contain oxalates but are sometimes used in salads where they impart a lemony-tangy flavour. On the west coast of North America the introduced plant is host to the great copper butterfly ( Lycaena xanthoides). |
| Cultivation |
| This is a difficult weed to control in the garden since it has quite a pernicious rhizomatous root system. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| Habitat |
| It favours acidic, moist soils and is often found growing on floodplains and near marshes or swamps. It is now a very common landscape weed in fields, gardens and woodlands. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Deeply ridged, red-tinted stems. |
| Leaf Description |
| Arrow shaped leaves. |
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