Integrated Pest Management
Creeping Woodsorrel
Oxalis corniculata
Creeping woodsorrel (Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California, Bugwood.org)
Creeping woodsorrel fruit (Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California, Bugwood.org)
Description
- creeping plant with 4-inch-tall hairy stems (although stems can grow to as long as 20 inches)
- leaves are often purplish and stalks are tipped with three heart-shaped leaflets; leaflets have hairy undersides
- leaves fold down on stems at night or when plants are stressed
- stem tips have one to five bright yellow flowers with five petals each; flowers are shaped like a shallow bowl
- flowers produce ribbed lantern-shaped seedpods that are long, green and hairy
Location
- commonly grows in lawn areas and planting beds
Life Cycle
- perennial that germinates at soil surface when temperatures are between 60-80°F
- seedlings grow vigorously and plants produce flowers and seeds throughout the remainder of the growing season; mature seeds are immediately viable
IPM Recommendations
- Hand-pull plants in planting beds prior to seed maturation.
- Shallow tillage or hoeing will control young plants in planting beds.
- Apply a mulch layer 3 inches deep on planting beds to reduce seed germination.
- Apply an appropriate pre-emergent herbicide prior to seed germination or apply an appropriate post-emergent herbicide directly to target weeds.