Quercus

Field Sorrel

Rumex acetosella

Not native to Kentucky

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Kentucky.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

51CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Rumex

  • Achyra rantalisGarden Webworm Moth
  • Agnorisma badinodisPale-Banded Dart
  • Agrotis gladiariaSwordsman Dart, Clay-Backed Cut-Worm
  • Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
  • Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
  • Apantesis argeArge Tiger Moth
  • Apantesis naisNais Tiger Moth
  • Argyrogramma verrucaGolden Looper
  • Calothysanis amaturariaCross-Lined Wave
  • Chionodes discoocellellaEyeringed Chionodes
Show all 51
  • Chloridea virescensTobacco Budworm Moth
  • Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaBlackberry Looper Moth
  • Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
  • Dypterygia rozmaniAmerican Bird's-Wing
  • Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
  • Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
  • Euxoa tessellataTessellate Dart, Striped Cutworm
  • Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
  • Hahncappsia mancalisCommon Hahncappsia
  • Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
  • Lacinipolia renigeraBristly Ground Cat, Bristly Cutworm Moth, Kidney Spotted "Mamestra"
  • Leuconycta lepidulaMarble-Green Jaspidia, Marble-Green Leuconycta
  • Lycaena hypophlaeasAmerican Copper
  • Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
  • Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
  • Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
  • Ochropleura implectaAmerican Flame-Shouldered Dart
  • Olethreutes fasciatanaBanded Olethreutes
  • Orthodes majusculaRustic Quaker, Rustic Groundcat
  • Orthonama obstipataThe Gem
  • Papaipema baptisiaeWild Indigo Borer, Indigo Stem Borer
  • Papaipema marginidensBrick-Red Borer
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Phlogophora irisOlive Angle Shades
  • Pseudeustrotia carneolaPink-Barred Lithacodia, Pink-Barred Pseudeustrotia
  • Resapamea passerDock Rustic Moth
  • Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
  • Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
  • Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
  • Tharsalea hyllusBronze Copper
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Trachea delicataDelicate Moth
  • Trichoplusia niNi Moth, Cabbage Looper Moth
  • Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
  • Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
  • Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
  • Coleophora lineapulvella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
26BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Rumex

  • Alectoris chukarChukar
  • Anthus rubescensAmerican Pipit
  • Aythya affinisLesser Scaup
  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Columbina passerinaCommon Ground Dove
  • Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
  • Haemorhous mexicanusHouse Finch
  • Junco hyemalisDark-eyed Junco
  • Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Show all 26
  • Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
  • Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
  • Melozone crissalisCalifornia Towhee
  • Oreortyx pictusMountain Quail
  • Pheucticus melanocephalusBlack-headed Grosbeak
  • Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
  • Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
  • Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
  • Sialia mexicanaWestern Bluebird
  • Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
  • Spinus psaltriaLesser Goldfinch
  • Spizella passerinaChipping Sparrow
  • Spizella pusillaField Sparrow
  • Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
  • Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned Sparrow
  • Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Polygonaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4a–8b
Soil pH
Acidic
Flower color
Yellow or green

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

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Field Sorrel; Sheep Sorrel

Conservation status

Kentucky rankSNA
Global rankNot available
KY statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources