French Sorrel Rumex scutatus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROO-meks skut-AY-tus
- Description
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French Sorrel is a low growing, flowering, creeping, herbaceous perennial in the buckwheat family that is native to Europe and Asia. The leaves are commonly used as a culinary herb. French Sorrell is preferred to other sorrel species by many food experts because it is less acidic. It usually reaches a mature height of 2 feet from a 3 foot wide clump. Small greenish-red flowers appear in summer.
French Sorrel does best in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. It self-seeds and can spread in the garden. The plants can tolerate drought, frost, and wind once established, but it does not do well with maritime salt. It will self-seed in the garden and is mat forming; in some situations, it could be used as a ground cover.
Remove flowers immediately to promote leaf growth.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rumex
- Species:
- scutatus
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in salads, soups, and sauces. Tastes tart from its oxalic acid content, with a hint of lemon. Later in the season, it can be bitter.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Southwest Siberia and south to Iran.
- Distribution:
- Introduced to Great Britain and Sweden.
- Wildlife Value:
- Food plant for caterpillars and
- Edibility:
- Leaves are used in salads and cooking.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 4 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herb
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Description:
- Reddish-brown, triangular fruits.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Erect racemes of small greenish or reddish flowers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Spatulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Basal, simple leaves, spear-shaped grey-green leaves are edible and can be cut for salads.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Wind
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
