Creeping Woodsorrel

Weeds

Procumbent Woodsorrel, Ladies' Sorrel

Oxalis corniculata

Photos

Creeping woodsorrel is a spreading perennial weed with a reddish-purple color that frequently roots at the nodes. The three heart-shaped leaves of creeping woodsorrel is nearly identical to yellow woodsorrel. Creeping woodsorrel is most commonly introduced to the landscape through nursery container-grown landscape plants. Once transplanted and established it will quickly escaped the landscape beds and invade the surrounding turf. Established creeping woodsorrel is difficult to manage and control.

Crops Affected: turf

Management

Once established, cultural management of creeping woodsorrel can be extremely difficult. Hand weeding small plants can be very effective due to the lack of a well-developed root system. Any stems left behind can re-establish new plants. Sanitation or exclusion can be an effective method for prohibiting infestations. Inspect nursery stock and remove creeping speedwell plants from the containers before leaving the greenhouse.

Similar Species

Creeping woodsorrel is an uncommon weed of turfgrass, but is one of several trifoliate weeds of turfgrass. Creeping woodsorrel is a trifoliate that, like black medic, lacks the crescent-moon shaped watermark of white clover. Unlike clover and medic, the woodsorrels have deeply indented heart-shaped leaflets. Black medic can further be distinguished from yellow woodsorrel by a center leaflet which has a separate petioliole. Yellow woodsorrel can be distinguished from creeping woodsorrel by the presence of a rhizome. Creeping woodsorrel is usually more prostrate, reddish in color and has stolons that will root at the node.

MSU Extension Turf