Sheeps Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

Family: Polygonaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Rumex acetosella is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required).

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Roots/Tubers

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

delicious lemon-like flavour, most people consider them too strong to use in quantity, but they are excellent as a flavouring in mixed salads. — Leaves - raw or cooked.; A delicious lemon-like flavour, most people consider them too strong to use in quantity, but they are excellent as a flavouring in mixed salads.; The leaves should only be used in small quantities due to the oxalic acid content.; The leaves can be used as thickeners in soups etc, they can also be dried for later use.

Habitat & North American Range

Heaths and acid grasslands. A weed of acid soils. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)