Log in Start trial

Wood Sorrel

Oxalis Acetosella

Design with this plant

Overview

Wood Sorrel, or Oxalis acetosella, is a charming, low-growing perennial, reaching a modest height of 2-5 inches. Its trifoliate, clover-like leaves and delicate white, veined flowers give a woodland feel. Preferring partial to full shade, it thrives in well-drained, acidic soil. Hardy in zones 3-9, it spreads through rhizomes, making it ideal for ground cover. Adds whimsical beauty and attracts pollinators in a garden design.

Sun Full, Half, ShadeWater HighZones 9–10Type PerennialClimate Alpine

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — Its trifoliate, clover-like leaves and delicate white, veined flowers give a woodland feel; adding a subtle pop, image 58

Culture

Sun: Full, Half, Shade
Water: High
USDA zones: 9–10

Shape & size

Classification

Type: Perennial
Family: Oxalidaceae
Climate: Alpine

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (190)

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — the Wood Sorrel provides a lush; vibrant green it adds to shaded sections of their garden

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — adding a subtle pop of color with their yellow centers; reopening with the light of day.<br><br>When designing a, image 151

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — multi-colored and white flowers in the garden; adding a subtle pop of color with their yellow centers, image 138

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — perennial with multi-colored and white blooms; reopening with the light of day.<br><br>When designing a landscape

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — vibrant green it adds to shaded sections of their garden; hardy in zones 3-9, it spreads through rhizomes, making it ideal

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — Its trifoliate, clover-like leaves and delicate white, veined flowers give a woodland feel; adding a subtle pop, image 86

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — adding a subtle pop of color with their yellow centers; reopening with the light of day.<br><br>When designing a, image 123

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — Each flower spans roughly 0.5 to 1 inch in diameter; vibrant green it adds to shaded sections of their garden, image 96

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — reopening with the light of day.<br><br>When designing a landscape; adding a subtle pop of color with their, image 158

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — held aloft on stems that rise just above the foliage.<br><br>Wood Sorrel prefers partial to full shade; hardy in, image 153

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — each measuring approximately 0.5 to 1 inch across; reopening with the light of day.<br><br>When designing a landscape

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — the Wood Sorrel provides a lush; vibrant green it adds to shaded sections of their garden, image 148

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — Its low-maintenance and spreading habit create a visually appealing and cohesive green layer; adding a subtle pop, image 78

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — while its modest height ensures it won't overshadow neighboring plants; reopening with the light of, image 163

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — the Wood Sorrel provides a lush; vibrant green it adds to shaded sections of their garden, image 92

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — Hardy in zones 3-9, it spreads through rhizomes, making it ideal for ground cover; vibrant green it adds to, image 116

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — Preferring partial to full shade, it thrives in well-drained, acidic soil; reopening with the light of, image 59

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — well-draining soils rich in organic matter and typically flourishes in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, image 127

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — the Wood Sorrel provides a lush

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — carpet-like ground cover reaching 2 to 5 inches in height

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — perennial for full or half or shade; vibrant green it adds to shaded sections of their garden

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — reaching a modest height of 2-5 inches; hardy in zones 3-9, it spreads through rhizomes, making it ideal for ground cover

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — and other shade-loving species; vibrant green it adds to shaded sections of their garden, image 76

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) — and other shade-loving species; vibrant green it adds to shaded sections of their garden, image 132

Photographs by 13 contributors

Hanna Zelenko, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Jay Sturner from USA, CC BY 2.0 · source
srsvivos, CC BY 4.0 · source
Philipp Weigell, CC BY 3.0 · source
Flocci Nivis, CC BY 4.0 · source
Gary Rogers, CC BY 4.0 · source
Patrick Hacker, CC BY 4.0 · source
Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
ProtoKiwi, CC BY 4.0 · source
Bart Everson, CC BY 2.0 · source
Motohiro Sunouchi, CC BY 4.0 · source

Related plants

Purple Shamrock (Oxalis Triangularis) — triangular leaves that fold down at night; mimicking the movement of butterfly wings

Bulb

Purple Shamrock

Oxalis Triangularis

Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis Oregana) — this plant is well adapted to cool

Ground cover

Redwood Sorrel

Oxalis Oregana

Deep ShadeUSDA 7–9

Snowdrop Wood-Sorrel (Oxalis Magellanica) — ground-hugging clumps that extend to a spread of around 6 to 9 inches

Perennial

Snowdrop Wood-Sorrel

Oxalis Magellanica

Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta (Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd') — resembling a drinking gourd

Ground cover

Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'

Deep ShadeUSDA 3–9

African Daisy (Arctotis Hybrids) — The African Daisy (Arctotis hybrids) brings vivid color to any garden

Ground cover

African Daisy

Arctotis Hybrids

FullUSDA 8–10

African Iris (Dietes Iridioides) — Low maintenance, it's ideal for accent planting and mass groupings in diverse landscape designs; is a hardy and versatile

Perennial

African Iris

Dietes Iridioides

FullUSDA 3–11