ExplorePlants

Sheep's sorrel

Rumex acetosella

Sheep's sorrel is a small, leafy plant that grows close to the ground. Its leaves are shaped like little arrows and can be sour to taste, making it a fun plant to discover in nature!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Sheep's sorrel has slender, reddish stems and distinctive arrow-shaped leaves. Its tiny, reddish-green flowers grow in tall, narrow clusters, often giving fields a rusty hue from a distance.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyPolygonaceaeGenusRumex
Sheep's sorrel
flowering trait badgemedicinal trait badgeedible trait badgegrassland trait badge
Sheep's sorrel

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

22

Interesting facts

It's sometimes called "sour weed" because of its taste!

Its tangy leaves are sometimes used in salads or soups!

Sheep's sorrel has male and female flowers on different plants!

This plant is often a sign of acidic soil nearby!

Special abilities

Ability

Underground Navigator

Sheep's sorrel can spread rapidly using underground stems called rhizomes, helping it colonize new areas quickly.

Ability

Acid Master

Sheep's sorrel has an amazing tolerance for acidic soils, allowing it to thrive where other plants struggle to grow.

Ability

Flavor Defender

Its leaves contain oxalic acid, giving them a tangy taste that helps deter some hungry animals from eating too much.

Ability

Wind Weaver

Sheep's sorrel releases vast amounts of tiny pollen into the wind for reproduction, not relying on insects for pollination.

Measurements & details

Height
10-40 cm
Spread
10-30 cm
Bloom Season
Late_spring, Summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Wind

Ecological connections

eats

Small Copper butterfly

Lycaena phlaeas

larvae feed on its leaves

eats

Roe deer

Capreolus capreolus

deer graze on its foliage

eaten by

Domestic sheep

Ovis aries

a common food source for grazing sheep

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before tasting any wild plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Sheep's sorrel?

The easiest way to identify Sheep's sorrel is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Sheep's sorrel?

10-40 cm

How wide does Sheep's sorrel spread?

10-30 cm

When does Sheep's sorrel bloom?

Late_spring, Summer

Is Sheep's sorrel edible?

Yes

Is Sheep's sorrel toxic?

Mild

What is Sheep's sorrel's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Sheep's sorrel pollinated?

Wind

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Where to spot

More Plants