Bloomipedia
Mountain woodsorrel (Oxalis montana)
Photo: Laura J. Costello via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Mountain woodsorrel

Oxalis montana

Native in the lower 48

Mountain woodsorrel is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

20states
3of our state lists
8,923U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont

Quick look

Oxalis montana is a species of flowering plant in the family Oxalidaceae known by the common names mountain woodsorrel, wood shamrock, sours and white woodsorrel. It may also be called common woodsorrel, though this name also applies to its close relative, Oxalis acetosella.

  • It belongs to the Oxalidaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 20 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. NatureServe
  • In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,586 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #50 among the 110 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,577 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #32 among the 109 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 836 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #89 among the 110 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist

Mountain woodsorrel gift ideas

Handmade mountain woodsorrel gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

  • Placeholder

    Mountain woodsorrel art print

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Mountain woodsorrel greeting card

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Mountain woodsorrel mug

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Mountain woodsorrel earrings

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Mountain woodsorrel embroidery pattern

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Mountain woodsorrel sticker

    Gift pick coming soon

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,322 records)
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
VermontNativeJune–July1,586
New HampshireNativeJune–July1,577
MaineNativeJune–July836

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (SH), OH (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap/juice, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “The leaves contain oxalic acid that, taken in large amounts, can bind up the body's supply of calcium leading to nutritional deficiency. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution since it…” They also note: “Small amounts of leaves, flowers, seeds, tubers/roots can be eaten raw are not dangerous they lend a sour taste to drinks and salads, hence the common name Sourwood.” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Good Luck Plant” (Oxalis spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records mountain woodsorrel in 20 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Strafford, Sullivan.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

More Vermont flowers

Red trillium (Trillium erectum)

Red trillium

Trillium erectum

Native

🌼 Blooms in VT: April–May
Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum)

Yellow trout lily

Erythronium americanum

Native

🌼 Blooms in VT: April–May
Colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara)

Colt's-foot

Tussilago farfara

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VT: March–May

Sources