When does Oxalis violacea bloom?

It flowers from May through July, sending up small clusters of violet purple blooms above clover-like leaflets.

What pollinators visit Violet Wood-sorrel?

Bees and flies are the main visitors to its flowers.

How much light does Violet Wood-sorrel need?

It grows best with part sun but tolerates conditions ranging from full sun to part shade, such as open woodland edges.

How much water does this plant need?

It does well with medium moisture and can also handle drier soils once its roots are established.

Does Violet Wood-sorrel stay green year round?

No, it is a deciduous perennial that dies back after the growing season and regrows from its bulb-like roots each spring.

Is Violet Wood-sorrel toxic to dogs?

Yes. Violet Wood-sorrel is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is Violet Wood-sorrel toxic to cats?

Yes. Violet Wood-sorrel is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is Violet Wood-sorrel HOA-friendly?

Violet Wood-sorrel takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Violet Wood-sorrel

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Oxalis violacea

Last reviewed: September 2026

Violet Wood-sorrel is a low, clover-leaved forb that blooms violet-purple from May through July. It favors open woodlands, prairies and rocky slopes across much of the eastern and central United States.

Violet Wood-sorrel (Oxalis violacea) — Photo: (c) Shelby Lyn Sanders, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Violet Wood-sorrel is toxic to dogs and cats.

Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

3"–10" H × 3"–8" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 31 more states

Pollinators

bees, flies

Deer

Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Violet wood-sorrel is a low-growing native wildflower that produces delicate purple flowers from May through July. This small perennial forms neat clumps with three-leaflet foliage and prefers partially shaded areas with moderate moisture.

Growing Violet Wood-sorrel

Grow Violet Wood-sorrel in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 3 to 10 inches tall and spread 3 to 8 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Violet Wood-sorrel takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Very small size appears weedy in formal landscapes
Common name includes 'wood-sorrel' which many consider a weed
May go dormant and disappear seasonally

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees and flies during the summer blooming period. Its small stature makes it most valuable as part of a diverse ground layer ecosystem.

Common questions

When does Oxalis violacea bloom?: It flowers from May through July, sending up small clusters of violet purple blooms above clover-like leaflets.
What pollinators visit Violet Wood-sorrel?: Bees and flies are the main visitors to its flowers.
How much light does Violet Wood-sorrel need?: It grows best with part sun but tolerates conditions ranging from full sun to part shade, such as open woodland edges.
How much water does this plant need?: It does well with medium moisture and can also handle drier soils once its roots are established.
Does Violet Wood-sorrel stay green year round?: No, it is a deciduous perennial that dies back after the growing season and regrows from its bulb-like roots each spring.
Is Violet Wood-sorrel toxic to dogs?: Yes. Violet Wood-sorrel is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Violet Wood-sorrel toxic to cats?: Yes. Violet Wood-sorrel is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Violet Wood-sorrel HOA-friendly?: Violet Wood-sorrel takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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