For years, I’ve seen this plant growing in the disturbed open soil of my vegetable gardens. I thought of it as a useless weed. At best, it was a plant that helped hold water in the soil in the open areas between my other plants.
However, this is a delicious edible green!
It has a delightful fresh lemon/citrus flavor that goes great in salads. But it’s also just fun to snack on.
Most sorrels contain oxalates/oxalic acid, which may be a health concern for some. As far as I can tell, they’re perfectly safe for most people as part of a regular varied food intake unless your doctor told you otherwise.
Also known as: upright yellow wood sorrel, upright wood sorrel
Oxalis stricta
Origin: North America
Identification Notes
- Has three bright green heart-shaped leaves arranged on the tips of stems. The leaves may droop down or stick out from the stem. May grow close to the ground, but may also extend stalks upward several inches high.
- Small yellow flowers appear starting in May or so.
- May co-occur with other edible plants (e.g., chickweed) or inedible/toxic plants (e.g., spurges), so be careful when harvesting to only take the wood sorrel.
- Similar in appearance to other types of Oxalis, including O. dillenni, O. florida, and O. corniculata.
Sources and Further Reading
- GoBotany Native Plant Trust: Oxalis stricta
- “Oxalates,” Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition (2003)
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