Flowers greenish but turning red, with male and female flowers on separate plants. A: The plant is sheep sorrel, Rumex acetosella, a perennial invasive weed. In that case, you’ll have to try a process of hurting the sorrel more than the ivy. Common Sorrel is larger and has leaves with the basal leaf lobes pointing backwards (sideways of forwards in Sheep's Sorrel). The flower is also different from that of sorrel. Low to short, slender, tufted plant with erect stems. The most likely plant to confuse with sorrel is black medic, related to alfalfa, and a more distant relative of common clover. http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/sorrel.htm, http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Sorrel.html. Sheep Sorrel Rumex acetosella L. Common Names: sheep sorrel, field sorrel, red sorrel Native Origin: Europe Description: An herbaceous perennial in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) growing to a height of 4 to 12 inches. We do not want to harm the ivy but if it means getting rid of this plant we will. Widespread and frequent throughout Britain, particularly in the west. Common Sorrel is larger and has leaves with the basal leaf lobes pointing backwards (sideways of forwards in Sheep's Sorrel). Thank you. Similar Species. Flowers greenish but turning red, with male and female flowers on separate plants. The seed-head looks like a miniature form of a broad-leaved dock seed-head which is hardly surprising as the two species are closely related. This plants grows in patches due to the creeping root system. Like wood sorrel, black medic (Medicago lupulina) has 3-part leaves and yellow flowers. Leaves arrow shaped with basal lobes spreading, or pointing forward. Sheep sorrel is composed of a clump of arrow-shaped leaves growing as a rosette which are joined underground by a creeping root system. I’d do an experiment using half-strength Weed B Gon on a patch of mixed ivy and sorrel. Please note that each and every hedgerow item you come across may … My guess is that the sorrel will be hurt more than ivy because ivy has such waxy leaves. Browse and purchase gardening books by Walter Reeves, plus select titles by other authors. Frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. If your observation confirms this, repeat the sprays every six weeks until the sorrel is under control. Enter a town or village to see local records, Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data) The halberd shaped leaves of sheep's sorrel are a great key identifier. In a shady area, I doubt it could choke out the ivy because ivy is so shade tolerant and sorrel is not. But notice it has oval-shaped leaves, with only a very small indent in the top, leaf edges are also serrated. A: The plant is sheep sorrel, Rumex acetosella, a perennial invasive weed. My native plant friend Shannon Pable reports that the leaves are very tasty in a salad! My native plant friend Shannon Pable reports that the leaves are very tasty in a salad! The stems are upright, branched at top, … In spring, each rosette forms a reddish upright flower stem. Observe the area for three weeks. It is doing very well but we now have a plant that is invading and choking the ivy. Identification difficulty. Q: We have a hill that is planted with English ivy. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 240 of the 617 tetrads. Sorrel can be used as a garnish, a salad leaf, a green for soups and stews or as a sweet ingredient for cakes and sorbets. Recording the wildlife of Leicestershire and Rutland. In a shady area, I doubt it could choke out the ivy because ivy is so shade tolerant and sorrel is not. I’d do an experiment using … Click here to support NatureSpot by making a donation - small or large - your gift is very much appreciated. ©2020 Walter Reeves / The Simple Gardener, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In full sun, sorrel might give ivy a run for its money. In that case, you’ll have to try a process of hurting the sorrel more than the ivy. Leaves arrow shaped with basal lobes spreading, or pointing forward. In full sun, sorrel might give ivy a run for its money. Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015, Leicestershire Amphibian & Reptile Network, Market Bosworth & District Natural History Society, Natural History Section, Leicester Literary & Philosophical Society, Leicestershire & Rutland Swift Partnership. And female flowers on separate plants small or large - your gift is very much appreciated a. Miniature form of a broad-leaved dock seed-head which is hardly surprising as the two species are closely related large your! The seed-head looks like a miniature form of a broad-leaved dock seed-head is. Purchase gardening books by Walter Reeves / the Simple Gardener, Inc. All Rights Reserved Flora survey Leicestershire! 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