Oxalis corniculata – Yellow Wood Sorrel / Sour Clover

Oxalis corniculata, commonly known as yellow sorrel, garden sorrel, sour clover, wild sorrel, creeping woodsorrel, yellow woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, or sleeping beauty, is a creeping perennial plant from the Oxalidaceae family.

It has slender stems that spread along the ground and root at the nodes. The leaves are trifoliate (clover-shaped), deep green, and close at night or in cloudy weather (hence the name “sleeping beauty”). The flowers are small and yellow, with 5 petals, and appear abundantly throughout the growing season. The leaves and flowers have a sour, lemon-like taste due to their oxalic acid content.

Main characteristics:

• Creeping, ground-covering plant
• Trifoliate leaves that close at night
• Small, abundant yellow flowers
• Pleasantly sour taste (edible in moderate amounts)
• Fast and vigorous growth
• Size: 5–15 cm tall, spreading horizontally

Easy care:

• Light: Partial sun to bright light. It also tolerates partial shade.
• Temperature: 15–28°C. It tolerates lower temperatures well, but not severe frost.
• Watering: Moderate – allow the substrate to partially dry out between waterings. It does not tolerate excess water.
• Humidity: Average
• Substrate: Light and well-draining

Recommended substrate: For healthy growth, a high-quality, well-draining soil is recommended. → Premium universal potting soil (Netherlands) - Secret Garden

Uses: It can be used as a ground-covering plant in the garden, in pots, planters, or as an indoor plant. The leaves and flowers are edible in small amounts (with a sour, lemon-like taste) and are rich in vitamin C. It is ideal for those looking for an easy-to-grow plant with a delicate appearance and yellow flowers that last for a long period.

Note: It contains oxalic acid. In large amounts, it may interfere with calcium absorption. Excessive consumption is not recommended. It is toxic to pets if ingested in large quantities.

An easy-care creeping plant with yellow flowers and trifoliate leaves, suitable for both the garden and indoors.

📌 Note

The foliage coloration is variable and is one of the cultivar’s characteristics. The same plant may simultaneously display lime-green, golden, bronze, copper, or pinkish-red leaves. The intensity and proportion of these shades are influenced by light, temperature, season, and leaf age. The plant may therefore look different from the presentation photographs.

The plant may be delivered with or without flowers, depending on its stage of development. The stems and leaves are delicate and may have breaks, dried leaves, or other minor aesthetic imperfections as a result of handling, transport, or adaptation to new environmental conditions, without affecting the plant’s viability.

Height including pot: 15–20 cm