Lemon Sorrel Crowns – Rumex acetosa
$8.00
Tangy Perennial Herb | Lemon-Flavoured Greens | Easy & Productive
Supplied as a dormant root cutting during late Autumn/winter, with little or no foliage visible. This is for 1 bare rooted dormant crown that will start growing in Spring. Plant as soon as you receive it.
Add Bright, Lemon-Fresh Flavour to Your Garden
Bring a refreshing, zesty perennial to your garden with Lemon Sorrel crowns. This vigorous, clumping plant produces abundant, bright green, arrow-shaped leaves with a distinctive sharp, lemony tang.
In spring and early summer it sends up tall spikes of small reddish-green flowers. Lemon Sorrel is a wonderful addition to herb gardens, vegetable beds, containers, and edible landscapes. The leaves are best harvested young for the brightest flavour.
8 in stock
Description
Culinary & Traditional Uses
Lemon Sorrel has been cultivated for centuries as both food and medicine:
- Culinary: The leaves have a wonderful sour, lemon-like taste. Use fresh in salads, sandwiches, pestos, soups, sauces, and fish dishes. Excellent in sorrel soup, quiches, or as a garnish. Can also be cooked like spinach or used to make a refreshing herbal lemonade.
- Nutritional: High in vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, magnesium, and antioxidants. Adds a nutritious boost to meals.
- Traditional & Medicinal: Used historically as a mild diuretic, for cooling fevers, and to support digestion. The leaves were traditionally applied as a poultice for skin irritations and minor wounds. Rich in oxalic acid, which gives it the characteristic sour taste.
Important Note: Contains oxalic acid — consume in moderation. Avoid large quantities if you have kidney stones or rheumatism. Always consult a healthcare provider before using medicinally, especially if pregnant or on medication.
Why Grow Lemon Sorrel?
- Cut-and-come-again harvesting — leaves regrow quickly
- Perennial — returns reliably year after year
- Attracts pollinators with its flowers
- Tolerates poor soil and partial shade
- Beautiful foliage adds texture to garden beds
- Hardy and low-maintenance
- Excellent for New Zealand gardens, especially cooler, moist areas like Canterbury
How to Grow Lemon Sorrel Crowns
Planting:
- Plant crowns when you receive them.
- Set crowns just below soil level, spacing 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) apart.
- Water well after planting.
Soil & Care:
- Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil (rich in organic matter is ideal).
- Full sun to partial shade (afternoon shade helps in hotter summers).
- Keep consistently moist — mulch to retain soil moisture.
- Low maintenance. Remove flower stalks if you want to focus energy on leaf production.
Growth & Harvest:
- Height: 30–60 cm (12–24 inches) in flower
- Spread: 30–45 cm
- Harvest: Pick young leaves regularly from spring through autumn. Flavour is best before flowering.
- Divide clumps every 3–4 years in spring or autumn to keep plants vigorous and prevent overcrowding.
- Very cold-hardy and suitable for most NZ climates.
Lemon Sorrel is one of the easiest and most rewarding perennial edibles you can grow.
