Shoot Logo
Take a photoPlans & pricingBook a demoGet started

Rumex scutatus (French sorrel )

Other names: Garden sorrel , Buckler-shaped sorrel

ShootChecker™

STOP: Make sure you get the “Right Plant, Right Place.”

90% of plants die because they were the wrong plant choice. Shoot helps you to save valuable time and money to get the right plant choices for any garden.

How ShootChecker™ works

Get the Right Plant, Right Place

1

Provide details about your garden or your client's garden conditions

2

ShootChecker™ will help you assess if it is the right plant

3

Save money with Right Plant, Right Place.

Get started Book a demo

Other Shoot features

Laptop, tablet and mobile devices

One-stop planning
Streamlined garden design and record-keeping all in one place

Monthly care advice
Receive tailored monthly care advice for plants in your garden

Present and collaborate
Share designs and care tasks with anyone

Join Shoot today to enjoy…

  • ShootChecker™
  • One-stop garden design
  • Monthly care advice for every plant in your garden
  • Saving money with Right Plant, Right Place

All you need to do is join.

Get started
Book a demo

Already a member? Sign in

Add to plant list
Species
R. scutatus is a clump-forming, deciduous perennial, often grown as an annual, with edible, sour, arrow-shaped, mid- to dark green leaves and slender panicles of greenish-white to red flowers in summer.
Add to plant list
ShootChecker™
Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.3 m 0.6 m 2-5 years
0 ft 1 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

Check to see if this is the Right Plant, Right Place with ShootChecker™

Open ShootChecker™

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Drought tolerant once established. Site carefully as spreads aggressively by rhizomes and seed.

Suggested uses

Cottage/Informal, Wildflower, Wildlife, Flavouring food and drinks

UK hardiness

H6

USDA zones

Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Clump-forming

Native to

Europe

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Leaves are edible but should only be consumed in small quantities due to oxalic acid content. Leaves have a lemon-like flavour.

Plant care

Pruning

Harvest young leaves. Flavour intensifies as the leaves age. If grown for its leaves, remove any flower stalks that appear. Can be cut back low to rejuvenate.

Propagation methods

Seed, Division

Propagation

Sow in situ in spring. Divide every 3-5 years.

Pests

Slugs

Aphids

Diseases

Generally disease free.

Prevent self-seeding (optional)

Divide and replant in spring

Let self-seed if desired

Plant in moist, lime free, well-drained soil

Plant container grown plants in moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Cut back in autumn (optional)

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Sow seed in situ

Prevent seed bearing flowers from forming

Plant in full sun or partial shade (autumn or spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (6)

Rumex

Select all Deselect all
0 selected Add to a plant list
0 selected
Rumex acetosella
View
Select
Rumex acetosella Sheep's sorrel
Rumex acetosa
View
Select
Rumex acetosa Common sorrel
Rumex sanguineus
View
Select
Rumex sanguineus Bloody dock
Rumex obtusifolius
View
Select
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved dock
Rumex scutatus
View
Select
Rumex scutatus French sorrel
Rumex hydrolapathum
View
Select
Rumex hydrolapathum Great water dock
Select all Deselect all Add to a plant list

Companion plants (1)

Select all Deselect all
0 selected Add to a plant list
0 selected
Petroselinum crispum
View
Select
Petroselinum crispum Curley leaf parsley
Select all Deselect all Add to a plant list

Related content

Discuss Rumex scutatus with other Shoot members
Read more
TOP