Creeping Woodsorrel
Oxalis corniculata
Also listed as Acetosella corniculata, Oxalis herpestica
Also known as Yellow Wood Sorrel, Creeping Yellow Wood-sorrel, Procumbent Yellow-sorrel
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing, spreading groundcover with clover-like trifoliate leaves and small yellow flowers. Commonly found in lawns and garden beds, it spreads readily and can be considered invasive in some regions.
Why grow it
Creeping woodsorrel establishes quickly as a low groundcover in poor soils and dry spots where other plants struggle, making it useful for erosion control or gap-filling in permaculture systems. Compared to clover or other nitrogen-fixing groundcovers, it requires less maintenance once established and tolerates a wider range of soil conditions. The edible leaves and seed pods offer minor nutritional value and can be harvested for salads or pickled preparations.
Watch out for
Creeping woodsorrel thrives in moist, well-drained soils and can spread aggressively through both seed and vegetative reproduction, so containment may be necessary in cultivated spaces. The plant's shallow root system makes it somewhat drought-sensitive compared to other groundcovers, requiring consistent moisture during establishment. Hand-pulling is most effective when soil is wet, as dry conditions leave fragments that readily regenerate.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A low-growing, spreading groundcover with clover-like trifoliate leaves and small yellow flowers. Commonly found in lawns and garden beds, it spreads readily and can be considered invasive in some regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Creeping Woodsorrel grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Creeping woodsorrel establishes quickly as a low groundcover in poor soils and dry spots where other plants struggle, making it useful for erosion control or gap-filling in permaculture systems. Compared to clover or other nitrogen-fixing groundcovers, it requires less maintenance once established and tolerates a wider range of soil conditions. The edible leaves and seed pods offer minor nutritional value and can be harvested for salads or pickled preparations.
Watch out for
Creeping woodsorrel thrives in moist, well-drained soils and can spread aggressively through both seed and vegetative reproduction, so containment may be necessary in cultivated spaces. The plant's shallow root system makes it somewhat drought-sensitive compared to other groundcovers, requiring consistent moisture during establishment. Hand-pulling is most effective when soil is wet, as dry conditions leave fragments that readily regenerate.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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