# pink-sorrel (*Oxalis articulata*) Pink sorrel is a cheerful little flower with pretty pink petals. It often grows in gardens and can be found in many colors, including pink and white. These flowers are fun to spot and can brighten up any place! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![pink-sorrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Oxalis_articulata_-_Flowers.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Oxalis_articulata_-_Flowers.jpg) ## Appearance The pink-sorrel has bright, five-petaled pink flowers that often bloom in clusters above distinctive clover-like leaves. Its foliage consists of three heart-shaped leaflets, typically green but sometimes with a purplish hue, growing on slender stems. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Oxalidales - **Family:** Oxalidaceae - **Genus:** Oxalis ## Interesting facts - In warm places, pink-sorrel can bloom almost all year, painting gardens with pink! - Its leaves have a tangy, lemony taste that makes them a sour snack (in tiny amounts)! - The word 'Oxalis' in its scientific name means 'sour', describing its zesty flavor! - This resilient plant can sprout from tiny underground stems, even after being dug up! ## Special abilities - **Sleeping Leaves:** Pink-sorrel has leaves that fold up at night or in bright sun, protecting them from damage and helping to conserve water. - **Underground Explorer:** Pink-sorrel spreads using underground stems called rhizomes, which helps it form new patches and colonize areas quickly. - **Persistent Survivor:** Pink-sorrel can easily regrow from its root fragments, making it very resilient to disturbance and difficult to remove. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — A frequent visitor gathering nectar. - **Pollinates:** Small White Butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding flower spread. - **Eaten by:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs sometimes graze on its tender leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or tasting any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify pink-sorrel? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is pink-sorrel? 10-30 cm ### How wide does pink-sorrel spread? 15-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on pink-sorrel? 1-2 cm ### When does pink-sorrel bloom? Spring to Fall ### Is pink-sorrel edible? Yes ### Is pink-sorrel toxic? Mild ### What is pink-sorrel's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Cape Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-charles-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Chambers County Courthouse Square Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chambers-county-courthouse-square-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Fort Monroe National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-monroe-national-monument) — Virginia, US · National Park - [Anderson Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Automotive Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/automotive-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see pink-sorrel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pink-sorrel) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Pink-sorrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pink-sorrel)