plant

Common sorrel

Rumex acetosa

Updated 8 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) — a plant, for Full sun, Medium water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to partial shade
Watermedium

↑ Gives back

Biomassmedium
Shadelow

Through the year

Emergence

Emergence of new growth in early spring after the last frost and when soil temperatures rise above 5 C.

Flowering

Flowering occurs in late spring to early summer as day length increases, approximately 60 days after emergence.

Senescence

Senescence begins with the first autumn frost and shortening days, leading to dormancy.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalNo
Accumulatespotassium, iron
Soil textureloam, sandy_loam
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceMedium

Propagation

Methodsseed, division
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Self-seedingModerate
Divisionspring_or_autumn

Wildlife & pests

Can host pestsaphids, slugs
Can host diseasesrust, downy_mildew