Herb. No. 148 · Polygonaceae
Temperate European dock, a garden perennial of cool moist ground.
Native · Europe
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
LegalGentleplant
Sorrel
Rumex acetosa
The lemon of the temperate garden — arrow leaves that sharpen soup and fish, with a French pedigree.
Garden sorrel is a perennial dock whose leaves taste of lemon and spinach. Traditional European use is in soup, sauce, and as a spring green. Culinary amounts are food. Oxalates mean this is not a daily bucket for people with certain kidney stones. French oseille soup is the classic.
Flavor
Bright lemon, green, a little spinach. Cooked it goes olive and silkier.
Parts used
Leaf
Helpful
- Perennial, early, truly a food
Cautions
- Oxalates in huge amounts
- Bolts in heat
- Metal pans can gray it