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Common Sorrel

About Common Sorrel

Common Sorrel is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that is easy to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Common Sorrel likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Common Sorrel belongs to the Rumex genus, and is native to Northern Temperate regions.

⚠️ Common Sorrel is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Rumex acetosa

Genus

Rumex

Family

Polygonaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

Also known as

Sorrel, Garden sorrel, Spinach dock and Narrow-leaved dock

How to care for Common Sorrel

💦 Water

How often to water your Common Sorrel

Common Sorrel needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Common Sorrel in your home

Common Sorrel love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Common Sorrel does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Common Sorrel in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Common Sorrel

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Common Sorrel: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Common Sorrel after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Is this edible? #BroadLeavedDock

Browse #CommonSorrel

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Common Sorrel is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Common Sorrel →

Benefits of Growing Common Sorrel →

Common Common Sorrel Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Common Sorrel →

💦 Water Needs

Common Sorrel prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Common Sorrel Water Frequency →

Common Sorrel Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Common Sorrel requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Common Sorrel Light Requirements →

Common Sorrel Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Common Sorrel is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

🪴 Soil

Common Sorrel does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Common Sorrel →

Best Pots for Common Sorrel →

When and How to Successfully Repot Common Sorrel →

What Are Healthy Common Sorrel Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Common Sorrel should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Common Sorrel →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Common Sorrel can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Common Sorrel Temperature Tolerance →

Common Sorrel Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Common Sorrel →

When to Plant Common Sorrel →

How to Plant Common Sorrel →

Where to Plant Common Sorrel →

Winter Care for Common Sorrel →

Best Companion Plants for Common Sorrel →

Is Common Sorrel a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Common Sorrel, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.