- Characteristics of sour clover
- Where the name comes from
- demands on the location
- A troublesome weed and powerful medicinal herb
- That's how you recognize him!
There are around 800 species of sorrel worldwide. In this country, wood sorrel is particularly well-known and relevant. Have you ever met him in the forest? But what do you actually know about him?
Wood sorrel flowers white to pale pink
Characteristics of sour clover
- Plant Family: Wood Sorrel
- Other names: cuckoo clover, lucky clover
- Occurrence: Deciduous and coniferous forests
- Growth: covering the ground, cushion-shaped
- Leaves: threefold, heart-shaped, green
- Flowering time: April to May
- flowers: in fives, radially symmetrical, white to pink
- Fruits: capsule fruits
- Location: sunny to shady
- Soil: humic, nutritious, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained
- Propagation: (self) sowing, division
- Care requirements: no special care requirements
Where the name comes from
Wood sorrel owes its name to its taste. It is edible and tastes mainly sour. There is also a subtle fruity note. The sour taste results from the oxalic acid it contains, which is toxic in large quantities.
demands on the location
The ability to thrive in the shade benefits wood sorrel. But it prefers a sunny to semi-shady place, for example on meadows and along roadsides. The soil should be slightly acidic, well-drained, moderately nutrient-rich and ideally humic.
A troublesome weed and powerful medicinal herb
Wood sorrel is known to many gardeners as a troublesome weed. You just can't get rid of him. This may be due to his penchant for self-seeding… But where does this plant grow naturally if not in gardens? It occurs more or less all over Europe. It can be found up to an altitude of 2,000 m. She prefers deciduous and coniferous forests as her home.
The healing power of wood sorrel should not be underestimated, which is why combating it should be reconsidered. It can be used both internally and externally and helps, for example, with rheumatic complaints. It has a blood-purifying, antipyretic and diuretic effect.
That's how you recognize him!
The sorrel grows between 5 and 15 cm high with its cushion-like growth. Its three-pinnate leaves are heart-shaped and fresh green in color. In spring, the delicate flowers pile up above the leaves. They are solitary, cup-shaped and white to pink.
tips
Even if wood sorrel is very similar to meadow clover. These two plants are not related to each other, as they come from two different plant families.