Creeping Red Woodsorrel

Oxalis corniculata

Alternate names
Creeping Woodsorrel

Weed Description
Erect, stoloniferous perennial that may mimic a summer annual in cooler climates. Found throughout the United States.

Seedlings
Cotyledons smooth, oblong, green. Margins and veins on lower leaf surfaces of young seedlings are sparsely hairy.

Leaves
Alternate, long-petiolated, and divided into 3 heart-shaped leaflets. Leaf margins are fringed with hairs.

Stems
Green to pink, weak, branched at base, more prostrate than erect to 20 inches tall, varying from smooth to pubescent. Spreads by stolons, which are aboveground modified stems.

Flowers
In clusters that arise from long stalks at the leaf axils, consisting of 5 yellow petals, 4-9 mm long.

Fruit
A capsule that is angulate with flat sides, cylindrical, pointed, and sparsely hairy. Seed disperse from capsules by explosively ejecting up to 13 feet.

Roots
Stolons which root at the nodes.

Identifying Characteristics
May be distinguished from Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta) by the presence of aboveground stolons vs. the underground rhizomes of yellow woodsorrel. Also, creeping woodsorrel has a more prostrate growth habit and often has more reddish-purple leaves than yellow woodsorrel. However, the presence of stolons rather than leaf color should be used to distinguish between the two species, as leaf color is variable in both.

Trouble identifying a weed?

For additional assistance identifying weeds, contact Dr. Kevin Braldly, State Extension Weed Scientist (bradleyke@missouri.edu).

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Creeping Red Woodsorrel

Oxalis corniculata

Trouble identifying a weed?