Plant field guide
Sorrel
Tangy, lemony perennial herb used in French cuisine for soups, sauces, and salads.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Rumex acetosa
- Sun
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 12 in (30 cm) – 18 in (46 cm)
- Spread
- 10 in (25 cm) – 14 in (36 cm)
- Spacing
- 10 in (25 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 3–9; average annual extreme minimum from -40°F (-40.0°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: May, June.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Remove flower stalks to keep leaves productive. Divide every 3-4 years.
Pruning
Remove flower stalks immediately.
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer
Early spring
Mulch
Light mulch to retain moisture.