Oxyria digyna

RHS Plant Profile

mountain sorrel

Other common names

alpine sorrel, kidney sorrel, sour dock, suran y mynydd

Herbaceous Perennial

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A compact, herbaceous perennial with an upright growth habit, reaching up to 30cm in height. It features fleshy, green, kidney- to heart-shaped leaves that form a basal rosette. Slender, reddish-tinged stems emerge above the foliage, supporting loose clusters of small, greenish flowers that gradually deepen to red as they mature from June to August

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Polygonaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright
Genus
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Temp. N. Hemisphere

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in moist but free draining soil in cool, shady conditions

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seeds outdoors, self-seeds freely

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free