Flower profile
Oregon woodsorrel
Oxalis oregana
Oregon woodsorrel (Oxalis oregana) is a flowering plant in the Oxalidaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–September across the U.S.
Oregon woodsorrel is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Oregon it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Oregon
Quick look
Oxalis oregana, known as redwood sorrel or Oregon oxalis, is a species of the wood sorrel family, Oxalidaceae, in the genus Oxalis native to moist Douglas-fir and coast redwood forests of western North America from southwestern British Columbia to Washington, Oregon, and northern California. The species is now recognized as distinct from Oxalis smalliana, with which it was previously conflated.
- 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 3 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon. NatureServe
- In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,055 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #85 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Oregon, most flowering sightings come in April–June.
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
- Oregon
- Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
ASPCA's entry “Good Luck Plant” (Oxalis spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: All parts of the plant have toxic potential, although the possibility of serious effects is usually limited to ingestions of large quantities. Consuming Oxalis species can produce colic in 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 Oregon woodsorrel in 3 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Oregon, Washington.
Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 43 counties across 3 states; the most are in Oregon (19), California (12), Washington (12).
Other Oxalis on Bloomipedia (5): Bermuda buttercup, Violet woodsorrel, Largeflower pink-sorrel, Redwood sorrel, Mountain woodsorrel.
More Oregon flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile OXOR.
- iNaturalist, Oxalis oregana: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Oxalis oregana (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
- Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Oxalis oregana (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: jonsense via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.