Common yellow woodsorrel is a perennial weed in the Oxalidaceae (wood sorrel) family. It is native to North America and Eurasia and appears in woodlands, meadows, and disturbed areas. Yellow woodsorrel is considered an aggressive weed in many turf and garden areas and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. It grows fastest in spring or fall and in warmer climates plants can be present year-round. These plants spread by rhizomes and stolons as well as by seeds which germinate quickly. Oxalis prefers dry to moist well-drained sandy-loam, alkaline soils. Woodsorrel from seed is well managed by most preemergence herbicides. Once established it is nearly impossible to completely remove woodsorrel rhizomes and stolons. Seeds need sunlight to germinate so mulch can help reduce germination but will not prevent plants from propagating from root pieces. Nonselective herbicides are effective when plants are young. Quick ID Hints The flowers are small and bright yellow. The leaves are trifoliate and heart- shaped like shamrocks. The seed pods are cylindrical. The leaves curl up at night and open in the morning to photosynthesize. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Plants harbor whiteflies and mites. VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Travis Birdsell, County Extension Director and Extension Agent for Ashe County Extension More information on Oxalis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf shape
Cordate
Leaf margin
Entire
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Heart-shaped trifoliate leaflets
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Solitary
Flower detail
Bright yellow
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
Cylindrical seed pods that are explosive and can catapult seeds up to 16 feet away.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America, Eurasia
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Flowers; Seeds; Stems
Edibility
Leaves, stems, flowers, and seed pods are edible and have a sour, tangy flavor. Use sparingly due to oxalic acid content.
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Native Garden
Garden tags
#full sun tolerant #disturbed areas #cool season weed #native weed #NC native #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #edible weed #partial shade tolerant #high maintenance #fast growing #heart-shaped leaves #meadow #aggressive #woodland #weedy #edible #poor soil tolerant
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses; Weedy
Resistant to
Poor Soil
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison symptoms
All parts of the plant have toxic potential, although the possibility of serious effects is usually limited to ingestions of large quantities. Consuming Oxalis species can produce colic in horses, and kidney failure is possible if significant amounts are eaten.