Plant Details

Rumex scutatus

Buckler-Leaved Sorrel, French sorrel

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Common names

26 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Buckler-Leaved Sorrel[1]
  • French sorrel[1]
Other languages (18)
Dutch
  • Spaanse zuring[1]
French
  • Oseille de France
  • Oseille ronde[1]
  • Oseille à feuilles rondes[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Rumex à écussons[1]
Arabic
  • حماض درقي[1]
  • حماض فرنسي[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 长盾酸模[1]
Czech
  • šťovík štítnatý[1]
Finnish
  • kilpisuolaheinä[1]
German
  • Schild-Ampfer[1]
Hungarian
  • francia sóska[1]
  • Római sóska[1]
Italian
  • romice scudata[1]
Japanese
  • テガタスイバ[1]
Polish
  • Szczaw tarczolistny[1]
Russian
  • Щавель щитковидный[1]
Slovak
  • štiav štítnatý[1]
Slovenian
  • ščitasta kislica[1]
Spanish
  • Acedera romana[1]
Swedish
  • sköldsyra[1]
Turkish
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Rumex scutatus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • French Sorrel — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Buckler-leaved Sorrel — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Oseille à feuilles rondes — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Badola — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Oseille ronde — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Acedera romana — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • šťovík štítnatý — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Spaanse zuring — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Schild-Ampfer — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • kilpisuolaheinä — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • حماض درقي — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • حماض فرنسي — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • テガタスイバ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Щавель щитковидный — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • 长盾酸模 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • sköldsyra — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • romice scudata — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • ščitasta kislica — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Római sóska — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Rumex à écussons — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • francia sóska — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Szczaw tarczolistny — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • štiav štítnatý — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Ekşimen — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.
  • Ekşi Kulak — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 333937; Rumex scutatus.

General information

Scientific name: Rumex scutatus
Accepted name (Kew): Rumex scutatus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Polygonaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Rumex (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Buckler-Leaved Sorrel, French sorrel
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.46–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.41–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Clumping, Creeping, Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Carbon farming

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. They have a delicious lemon-like flavor that most people find overwhelming when used in large quantities. They make a tasty addition to salads and can also be used as herbs. This species has less acidic leaves than sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and is therefore often preferred. It is important to use the leaves sparingly due to their oxalic acid content.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 152936; name ID 2425606; Rumex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 153607; name ID 2424805; Rumex scutatus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rumex scutatus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1163044, ID 4TPWY: Rumex scutatus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Rumex scutatus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 4 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .