[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg__animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg__animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Grasses most commonly affected: Kentucky bluegrass, bentgrass, fescue, and ryegrass.
Oxalis (from the oxalidaceae family) is a flowering, low-growing weed that is often mistaken for clover. There are some 850 different species of oxalis with wood sorrels (oxalis corniculata) being the largest. This edible plant–sometimes referred to as sour grass–does well in warm, moist soil. Some species of oxalis are sought after as decorative, flowering plants due to their attractive appearance, but others (oxalis corniculata, o. debilis, and o. latifolia) can become bothersome, invasive weeds in your yard. The root systems form fibrous networks that are very difficult to remove. And since some varieties have seed pods that send forth an excess of seeds at a mere touch, they tend to reproduce rapidly.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg__animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][_with_animation _url=”366″ _size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” _loading=”default”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg__animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg__animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]
Clover is a common sight in lawns, fields, and meadows. Its characteristic triple leaflets and rounded flower heads are easily recognizable. But you may come across a lookalike weed with three leaves and pinkish flowers that can be mistaken for clover. Chances are it’s a type of wood sorrel called oxalis.
Oxalis is a genus of low-growing flowering plants that are often confused with clover. There are over 800 species of oxalis, but a few common ones emerge as pink-flowered clover imposters. Read on to learn how to identify these oxalis weeds.
What is Wood Sorrel?
Wood sorrel or oxalis belongs to the Oxalidaceae family. There are over 800 species found around the world, thriving in warm, moist environments.
Some common names for oxalis weeds include
- Wood sorrel
- Sourgrass
- Shamrock
- Yellow sorrel
- Pink sorrel
- False shamrocks
These low-growing edible herbs have a tangy lemony flavor. The oxalis genus gets its name from the oxalic acid present in the leaves which gives the plant its sour taste.
Wood sorrel species spread rapidly by seed. They can become invasive weeds in gardens, fields and landscape plantings if not controlled.
Why Does Wood Sorrel Look Like Clover?
Several species of wood sorrel are frequently mistaken for clover thanks to their trifoliate leaves. Like clover wood sorrel has:
- Leaves divided into three heart-shaped leaflets
- A compound leaf structure with all three leaflets attached at the center
- Sprawling growth habit close to the ground
- Tendency to spread rapidly through areas
This similar triple leaf shape causes wood sorrel to be overlooked as clover by the casual observer.
However, wood sorrel can be distinguished from clover by other traits:
- Flowers have 5 petals (clover has tiny clustered flowers)
- Leaves and stems have a sour taste (clover tastes grassy)
- Leaves fold up at night (unique trait)
- Flowers produce a “seed box” capsule after blooming
Once you know what features to compare, it’s not too hard to tell wood sorrel and clover plants apart.
Pink-Flowered Wood Sorrels that Mimic Clover
Several wood sorrel species produce flowers in shades of pink, further adding to the confusion with clover. Here are a few to watch for:
Pink Wood Sorrel
Scientific name: Oxalis debilis
Pink wood sorrel is one of the most common species mistaken for clover. It has:
- Delicate pink or white flowers
- Thin, weak stems that crawl along the ground
- Light green leaves with reddish undersides
- Blooms spring through fall
- Spreads aggressively through gardens and lawns
Bermuda Buttercup
Scientific name: Oxalis pes-caprae
This wood sorrel is an invasive weed in warm climates like California and the southern U.S. Features include:
- Shiny yellow flowers that turn pink with age
- Forms dense mats that overwhelm gardens
- Leaves stay green year-round in mild climates
Creeping Wood Sorrel
Scientific name: Oxalis corniculata
This weed has:
- Dainty yellow flowers that turn pink as they age
- Small (1/4 inch), clover-like leaflets
- Spreads rapidly through lawns and garden beds
English Wood Sorrel
Scientific name: Oxalis acetosella
Native to Europe, this wood sorrel has:
- White flowers with pink veins
- Reddish stems
- Grows in U.S. landscapes and gardens
- Thrives in woodlands and shady lawns
Once you learn to recognize their five-petaled flowers and sour foliage, it’s easy to distinguish these wood sorrels from sweet, grassy clover.
Differences Between Clover and Pink-Flowered Wood Sorrel
Here’s a handy chart to compare characteristics of clover vs. pink-flowered wood sorrel:
| Clover | Pink-Flowered Wood Sorrel |
|---|---|
| Leaflets | Rounded, elliptical, or heart shaped |
| Leaf margins | Toothed |
| Leaf arrangement | Leaves on stem directly across from each other |
| Flowers | White, purple, red dense balls |
| Flower shape | Round clustered heads |
| Stems | Sturdy, upright |
| Taste | Mild, grassy |
| Growth habit | Low clumps, upright stalks |
Once you know what features to compare, it’s easy to correctly identify wood sorrel weeds from clover plants.
How to Control Pink-Flowering Wood Sorrel Weeds
Wood sorrel weeds spread aggressively in lawns and gardens through seeds and creeping stems. Here are organic methods to control oxalis:
- Hand pull frequently to stop seed production and uproot spreading stems
- Encourage vigorous turfgrass to crowd out weeds
- Maintain optimal soil fertility and moisture to discourage weeds
- Solarize soil using black plastic sheeting to heat and kill plants
- Apply corn gluten meal in early spring to inhibit seed germination
- Replant heavily infested areas with native plants after removing oxalis
Be persistent and don’t allow oxalis weeds to mature and go to seed. Combine control methods to manage infestations.
Using Wood Sorrel Plants
While considered a weed by many, wood sorrel has some beneficial uses:
- The edible leaves add tangy lemon flavor to salads, soups, and sauces.
- Tea can be brewed from the dried leaves.
- The plant has historically been used to treat scurvy, urinary tract infections, and mouth sores.
- Wood sorrel can be an attractive groundcover in shady areas when managed properly.
So don’t be too quick to discard this hardy little plant. Consider allowing it grow under the right conditions.
Just be sure to properly identify pink-flowered wood sorrel instead of mistaking it for clover in lawns and garden beds where it is unwanted. A quick glance at the defining flowers and foliage helps tell these lookalike plants apart.
Oxalis Signs and Symptoms
Most species of oxalis have three pale-green to purplish heart-shaped leaves, earning them the nickname “false shamrocks.” Blooming from mid-spring well into the fall, the petite five-petal flowers are often yellow, but some species have purple, white, or pink flowers. The leaves fold up at night and reopen in the morning. They tend to do this in harsh sunlight as well. These hardy weeds prefer shaded areas, but are capable of growing in the sun with adequate moisture.
Oxalis will quickly fill in thinning areas or bare patches of a lawn, so your best defense is to keep grass well maintained and lush. It’s also important to avoid overwatering as these invaders prefer moist conditions. But if you find some of these clover-like weeds growing in your yard, here’s what you can do:
- Oxalis can usually be handpicked or weeded, but it’s important to do so before the plants flower and set seed. Once that occurs, you will have to continue weeding as they reappear.
- Unfortunately, oxalis corniculata is resistant to many weed killers, but some success has been had with broadleaf weed herbicides like glyphosate. It should be applied in the spring, during the active growing season, and will most likely need repeated applications.
- Covering the weeds with mulch helps to prevent them from growing and seeding because they have no exposure to sunlight. This is sometimes an effective control method for gardens and plant beds, but it won’t work for the lawn.
- After using a lawn mower on an area where oxalis grows, hose off or air spray the machine to make sure no seeds remain before mowing grass that is weed-free.
Pink wood sorrel flower
FAQ
What is the pink flower that looks like clover?
Oxalis crassipes ‘Rosea’ is also known as Wood Sorrel. It produces half-inch, fuchsia pink, flowers on fine stems that stand just above the attractive clover-like foliage. Oxalis ‘Rosea’ blooms in May-June, and again in September-October.
What plant looks like clover but isn’t?
Oxalis (from the oxalidaceae family) is a flowering, low-growing weed that is often mistaken for clover. There are some 850 different species of oxalis with wood sorrels (oxalis corniculata) being the largest. This edible plant–sometimes referred to as sour grass–does well in warm, moist soil.
What is pink-sorrel good for?
Sorrel is rich in antioxidants. It may support heart health and hinder cancer cell growth.Aug 12, 2021
Is a shamrock a perennial or annual?
Shamrock plants are a species of Oxalis, with the common name Wood Sorrels. Oxalis are classified as herbaceous perennials. Other common names are False Shamrock, Good Luck plant, Purple Shamrock, and the Love plant.