Red Sorrel

Rumex acetosella

Weed Description
A perennial from rhizomes with distinctive arrowhead-shaped leaves and red flowering stems. Red sorrel is primarily a weed of turfgrass, lawns, roadsides, landscapes, and some nursery crops. It is found throughout the United States.

Seedlings
Cotyledons are oblong, without hairs, reaching 10 mm in length. Cotyledons and young leaves usually have a mealy cast on the leaf surfaces. The first true leaf is egg-shaped in outline and occurs on a short petiole. The distinctive arrowhead-shaped leaves develop later.

Leaves
Distinctively arrowhead-shaped due to 2 lobes that occur at the base of the leaves. Most leaves occur in the basal rosette, however some stem leaves occur also. Basal leaves are approximately 1 to 3 inches long, without hairs (glabrous), and occur on petioles. Leaves on the flowering stem are arranged alternately and are usually linear in outline (not usually arrowhead-shaped), without distinctive petioles. All leaves have a thin membranous sheath (ocrea) surrounding the stem at the point of the leaf petiole attachment.

Stems
Flowering stems are erect, reaching 18 inches in height, branching in the upper portions only. Stems are ridged and often maroon-tinted.

Flowers
Occur in clusters on the flowering stems. Flowers can be either yellowish-green in color (male) or red to maroon in color (female).

Fruit
An achene that is also red to maroon in color.

Roots
A taproot and rhizomes.

Identifying Characteristics
The arrowhead-shaped leaves that develop in a basal rosette and the red to maroon-tinged flowering stems are both characteristics that distinguish red sorrel from most other species.

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

Red Sorrel

Rumex acetosella

Trouble identifying a weed?