Red sorrel has a creeping root system and spreads aggressively by underground roots and rhizomes. The upright, somewhat woody stems grow to a height of 1/2 to two feet, with little branching in the lower portions. Leaves are alternate on the hairless stems, with short petioles and a papery sheath at the point of attachment to the stem. The leaves have a distinctive lance or arrowhead shape, with two narrow lobes at the base of the blade. Reddish flowers are borne in loose clusters on branching stems at the top of the plant. Red sorrel is dioecious, bearing red-brown female flowers and yellow-green to red-orange male flowers on separate plants. The glossy, reddish-brown seeds are triangular in shape and are typically enclosed by the persisting remains of the flowers.

Habitat

Red sorrel thrives on acid soils, but it is well-adapted to many soil types and growing conditions. It may be a weed of waste places, lawns, fields, gardens, and roadsides.

Management Options

Non-Chemical Management

None recommended

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides

Apply according to label directions. Glyphosate products should be applied as spot treatments only! NOTE: Some ingredients listed here are only available in combination. Read the label carefully on combination products to make sure the product is suitable for your specific situation.

Landscape areas

glyphosate
products containing dicamba

Turf areas

products containing dicamba

Bare ground areas

glyphosate
products containing dicamba

Images

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Caption: Red sorrel leaves Photo by: T.W. Miller
Caption: Red sorrel male flowers Photo by: D.D. Tapio
Caption: Red sorrel female flowers Photo by: T.W. Miller
Caption: Red sorrel rosette Photo by: J.A. Kropf
Caption: Red sorrel leaves Photo by: J.A. Kropf
Caption: Red sorrel seedling Photo by: D.G. Swan
Caption: Red sorrel in a yard Photo by: T. W. Miller

WSU Extension

Hortsense