Common Yellow Woodsorrel

Oxalis stricta

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in disturbed areas, also in a variety of natural habitats. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

-30

Harmful

Native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 2–12 inches
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

See native alternatives

Oxalis stricta — flower photograph — (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Arkansas.

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Early Buttercup
Ranunculus fascicularis
Sun: Full sun. Soil: Dry to somewhat dry. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, flower color
Yellow Star-grass
Hypoxis hirsuta
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, flower color
Yellow Fumewort
Corydalis flavula
Sun: Dappled sunlight, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, flower color

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: May to October

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Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 60 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 81 animals.

Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Sora
Porzana carolina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Willow Flycatcher
Empidonax traillii
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wilson's Warbler
Wilsonia pusilla
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Worm-eating Warbler
Helmitheros vermivorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat

Widespread birds also seen here (60)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of Arkansas

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Oxalis

Chrysodeixis includensSoybean Looper Moth
Galgula partitaThe Wedgling
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

13BirdsRecorded eating Oxalis in Arkansas

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes Arkansas, most records first.

Common Ground-dove12 diet records
Wild Turkey7 diet records
Northern Bobwhite6 diet records
Mourning Dove4 diet records
Chipping SparrowSeeds. 2 diet records
Field SparrowSeeds. 2 diet records
House Sparrow2 diet records
Ruffed Grouse2 diet records
Sandhill Crane2 diet records
Vesper SparrowSeeds. 2 diet records

Show all 13

American RobinFruit. 1 diet record
Grasshopper SparrowSeeds. 1 diet record
House FinchSeeds. 1 diet record

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab)

Direct food only. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Adult butterflies / moths 2

Pholisora catullus
Pholisora hayhurstii

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Other wasps · Other insects

Birds that eat Oxalis 13

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Common Ground-dove
Columbina passerina
12 diet records
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
7 diet records
Northern Bobwhite
Colinus virginianus
6 diet records
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
4 diet records
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Seeds. 2 diet records
Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
Seeds. 2 diet records
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
2 diet records
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
2 diet records
Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis
2 diet records
Vesper Sparrow
Pooecetes gramineus
Seeds. 2 diet records
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Fruit. 1 diet record
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum
Seeds. 1 diet record
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Seeds. 1 diet record

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Oxalidaceae
Soil pH: Alkaline
Flower color: Yellow

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “2–12 inches” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Minnesota Wildflowers differs)
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
primary_flower_color · “yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Soil pH · “Alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)

Also known as

Common Yellow Wood Sorrel

Conservation status

Arkansas rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
AR status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source