Broadleaf Weeds - St Augustine Lawn - Yellow Woodsorrel
BES-TEX Weed ID Guide · Broadleaf Weeds
Yellow Woodsorrel
Also called Oxalis · Oxalis stricta
Common Name
Yellow Woodsorrel, Oxalis
Latin Name
Oxalis stricta
Family
Oxalidaceae
Life Cycle / Type
Annual or short-lived perennial · Broadleaf
What Is It?
Yellow woodsorrel is a low-growing broadleaf weed with three heart-shaped leaflets often mistaken for clover. It produces small yellow flowers and spreads aggressively by seed, which can be ejected several feet from the plant. It commonly appears in thin turf, landscaped beds, and disturbed soil. This weed can behave as both an annual and a short-lived perennial. Pre-emergent herbicides may reduce new seedlings but will not control existing plants.
Soil Temperature & Germination
Yellow woodsorrel germinates as soils warm in spring and summer.
Above 55°F
Germination begins
Above 75°F
Rapid emergence and spread
Decision Question
Is the yellow woodsorrel visible above the soil right now?
Why This Weed Comes Back
Explosive seed dispersal
Missed spring or summer pre-emergent timing
Thin or stressed turf
Learn the Basics
A healthy, thick lawn is the best defense against weeds.
