Rumex acetosa Seeds | Sorrel
LATIN NAME: Rumex acetosa
COMMON NAME: Sorrel
Plant Profile
Rumex acetosa, commonly known as Sorrel, is a perennial in the dock family. Sorrel is sharp, green leaf of cool kitchen, and slender, reddish spikes of small flowers rise above arrow-shaped leaves. Leaves have a long record as sharp, lemony green of spring table, and plant is a fine, generous presence of herb bed. It is a plant of open, sunny to partly shaded, moist, rich ground. Taken as a whole, it is a plant that repays a little attention many times over.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the dock family, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. It is the kind of species that plant scientists reach for when they need reliable material for propagation and selection studies.
Uses & Benefits
Sorrel brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Sorrel is a fine, generous plant of herb bed and cool kitchen. Soft, arrow-shaped leaves have a long record as sharp, lemony green of spring table, chopped into salads, soups and sauces of old kitchens, and sharp taste comes through best in moderate amounts. It has been written up in culinary and botanical papers for sharp, lemony leaves and old ways, and it is a fine, generous plant of open, sunny to partly shaded, moist, rich garden. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
Docks and sorrels are lemony, vitamin-C-rich spring greens, and yellow dock root is a classical Western herbal alterative for skin and digestion, rich in iron-repute and anthraquinones.
Growing from Seed
Sorrel is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
It grows as a perennial, so its place in the garden is easy to plan. Sorrel has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Sun and good drainage cover most of its demands.
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