Is Wood Sorrel deer resistant?
Oxalis sp.
Plant typeBulbHardinessZones 3–8, genus rangeLightFull shade to part shade
MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Wood Sorrel
Clover-like leaves that fold down at night and in bright sun. Sharp lemony taste from oxalic acid, which is what deters browsing. The woodland species is well behaved; several of the weedy Oxalis are among the hardest garden weeds to eradicate, so identify before you plant.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5 to 6.5
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 8 to 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to Wood Sorrel
Other bulbs with the same deer rating.
- Calla LilyZantedeschia sp.Zones 8–11, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- CamassiaCamassia leichtliniiZones 4–8Seldom damaged
- Canna LilyCanna sp.Zones 8–11, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- CrocusCrocus sp.Zones 3–8, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- Elephant EarColocasia esculentaZones 8–11Seldom damaged
- GladiolusGladiolus sp.Zones 7–10, genus rangeSeldom damaged
Where Wood Sorrel grows
Hardy across most of these 50 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
Browse from here
Every list Wood Sorrel belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Wood Sorrel
- Is Wood Sorrel deer resistant?
- Wood Sorrel (Oxalis sp.) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Wood Sorrel grow in?
- Wood Sorrel is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat. That is the range across the genus, so a named species or cultivar may be narrower.
- Does Wood Sorrel grow in shade?
- Yes. Wood Sorrel tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- Is Wood Sorrel toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Wood Sorrel as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.