# Violet Woodsorrel (*oxalis violacea*) The Violet Woodsorrel is a beautiful plant with delicate purple flowers that look like little butterflies! Its leaves are shaped like hearts and can be found in many gardens and meadows. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Violet Woodsorrel can be found in meadows, gardens, and along roadsides, thriving in moist, well-drained soil. - **Also known as:** Heartleaf Oxalis, Purple Woodsorrel, Wild Sorrel ![Violet Woodsorrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Violet_Wood-Sorrel_-_Oxalis_violacea.JPG&width=800) Photo: Ilona Loser, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Violet_Wood-Sorrel_-_Oxalis_violacea.JPG) ## Appearance The Violet Woodsorrel has striking three-part, clover-like leaves, often tinged with purple. Its delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers are typically vibrant pink to violet, sometimes with white centers, emerging on slender stalks above the foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Oxalidales - **Family:** Oxalidaceae - **Genus:** Oxalis ## Interesting facts - Its tart leaves are like lemon candy, but don't eat too many at once! - Like a shy sleeper, its leaves fold up tightly when darkness falls. - Some believe finding a four-leaf woodsorrel is even luckier than a clover! - The 'oxalis' in its name means 'sour,' perfect for its zesty taste. ## Special abilities - **Day-Night Folder:** Violet Woodsorrel can fold its leaves down at night or in intense sun, protecting itself from cold or excessive light. - **Exploding Seed Cannon:** Violet Woodsorrel has seed pods that explosively eject seeds, helping them spread far from the parent plant. - **Bulb Battery:** Violet Woodsorrel has underground bulbs that store energy, allowing it to survive harsh conditions and regrow. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 10-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring-Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit its flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on the leaves and stems of this plant. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard-slug) (*Limax maximus*) — Slugs and snails commonly feed on its foliage. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before tasting any wild plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Violet Woodsorrel? 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 Violet Woodsorrel? 10-30 cm ### How wide does Violet Woodsorrel spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on Violet Woodsorrel? 1-2 cm ### When does Violet Woodsorrel bloom? Spring-Summer ### Is Violet Woodsorrel edible? Yes ### Is Violet Woodsorrel toxic? Mild ### What is Violet Woodsorrel's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bellefontaine Cemetery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellefontaine-cemetery) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Fort Payne Boom Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-payne-boom-town-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [City of Camden Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-of-camden-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Downtown Cumberland Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-cumberland-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Fort Payne Main Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-payne-main-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Fort Payne Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-payne-residential-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see Violet Woodsorrel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/violet-woodsorrel) ## 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: [Violet Woodsorrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/violet-woodsorrel)