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Native Plant Society of Texas

Drummond's Woodsorrel

Oxalis drummondii

Other common name(s):

Drummond's Wood-sorrel, Large-leaf Wood-sorrel

Family:

Oxalidaceae (Wood Sorrel Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands
Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Balcones Canyonlands, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

0.5
to
1
ft.

Spread

.5
to
.75
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Calcareous, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Seeds, Forage, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Birds, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Blooms on and off throughout the growing season. Tolerates sun, but needs to be shaded from the afternoon sun. Forms small colonies. Makes a fine addition to a short grass wildflower mix or edge of woods. Can be grown in containers. Propagation: division, offsets, bulbs.

Comments

Blooms March-November. Grows from a bulb. Produces 3 clover-like leaflets which grow on stalks from the base of the plant. The lavender-pink to purple flowers grow in clusters from leafless stems and only bloom 1 to 2 at a time. They have a shallow funnel shape, ending in 5 petals. The fruit is a capsule.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Oxalis amplifolia

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Once ready, plant the seeds in well-drained soil, covering them lightly to ensure they have the best chance to germinate. Start by allowing the seed pods to mature and dry on the plant. https://greg.app/drummonds-woodsorrel-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%B1%20Seed%20Propagation,the%20best%20chance%20to%20germinate.
Clump division Division Replant them immediately to encourage healthy growth. This propagation process not only helps you expand your garden but also ensures the vitality of your existing plants. The best time to do this is in early spring or fall; simply dig up the plant carefully, separate the root clumps. 1) https://greg.app/drummonds-woodsorrel-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%B1%20Seed%20Propagation,the%20best%20chance%20to%20germinate. 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/Oxalis_drummondii.html#:~:text=How%20to%20Propagate%20Drummond's%20woodsorrel?&text=Drummond's%20woodsorrel%20can%20be%20effectively,unique%20characteristics%20of%20drummond's%20woodsorrel.
Root Carefully separate the tubers and plant them in individual pots with well-draining soil. Oxalis drummondii can be propagated through division of its tubers. This is best done during the dormancy period. https://earthone.io/plant/oxalis%20drummondii

Drummond's Woodsorrel

Oxalis drummondii

Other names:

Drummond's Wood-sorrel, Large-leaf Wood-sorrel

Family:

Oxalidaceae (Wood Sorrel Family)

Characteristics
Growth Form:
Herbaceous
Height:
0.5
to
1
ft.
Spread:
.5
to
.75
ft.
Leaf Retention:
Deciduous
Lifespan:
Perennial
Soil:
Sand, Calcareous, Moist, Dry
Light:
Sun, Part Shade
Water:
Low, Medium
Native Habitat:
Grassland, Woodland
Photo Credit: Claire Sorenson
Photo Credit: Mathews, Ray, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=37977
Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands
Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Balcones Canyonlands, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Color:
Pink, Purple
Season:
Spring, Summer, Fall
Seasonal Interest:
Fruit, Seeds, Forage, Nectar
Wildlife Benefit:
Browsers, Birds, Nectar Insects
Blooms on and off throughout the growing season. Tolerates sun, but needs to be shaded from the afternoon sun. Forms small colonies. Makes a fine addition to a short grass wildflower mix or edge of woods. Can be grown in containers. Propagation: division, offsets, bulbs.
Blooms March-November. Grows from a bulb. Produces 3 clover-like leaflets which grow on stalks from the base of the plant. The lavender-pink to purple flowers grow in clusters from leafless stems and only bloom 1 to 2 at a time. They have a shallow funnel shape, ending in 5 petals. The fruit is a capsule.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Once ready, plant the seeds in well-drained soil, covering them lightly to ensure they have the best chance to germinate. Start by allowing the seed pods to mature and dry on the plant. https://greg.app/drummonds-woodsorrel-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%B1%20Seed%20Propagation,the%20best%20chance%20to%20germinate.
Clump division Division Replant them immediately to encourage healthy growth. This propagation process not only helps you expand your garden but also ensures the vitality of your existing plants. The best time to do this is in early spring or fall; simply dig up the plant carefully, separate the root clumps. 1) https://greg.app/drummonds-woodsorrel-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%B1%20Seed%20Propagation,the%20best%20chance%20to%20germinate. 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/Oxalis_drummondii.html#:~:text=How%20to%20Propagate%20Drummond's%20woodsorrel?&text=Drummond's%20woodsorrel%20can%20be%20effectively,unique%20characteristics%20of%20drummond's%20woodsorrel.
Root Carefully separate the tubers and plant them in individual pots with well-draining soil. Oxalis drummondii can be propagated through division of its tubers. This is best done during the dormancy period. https://earthone.io/plant/oxalis%20drummondii
Previous Scientific Name(s): Oxalis amplifolia

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason