Oxalis californica
California wood-sorrel
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Oxalidaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Oxalis californica (California wood-sorrel) is a native California perennial in the Oxalidaceae family, recognized by yellow-orange flowers diagnostic in SW California.
California wood-sorrel is a California native perennial found in the southwestern California bioregions in coastal scrub and chaparral habitats at elevations below 2,035 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces yellow-orange flowers that dry reddish, with blossoms 8 to 12 millimeters long and purple-tinged sepals. Growing with decumbent to erect stems less than 40 centimeters tall, it has sparse appressed or arched hairs along its slender stems. Its leaves feature small leaflets less than 1.5 centimeters long, covered in appressed hairs, growing on petioles shorter than 7 centimeters. The fruit is 10 to 15 millimeters long, with simple, short, and appressed hairs rarely becoming multicellular.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; yellow-orange flowers diagnostic in SW California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, chaparral
Elevation: < 2035 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Oxalis californica blooms Feb-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Trifolium: Oxalis has heart-notched leaflet tips; clover has oval or elongate leaflet tips without notches.; vs Medicago: Oxalis leaflets fold at night and have notched tips; medick leaflets don't fold and have toothed edges.; vs Marsilea: Oxalis is a land plant with flowers; water clover is aquatic with spore-bearing structures.; vs Pelargonium: Oxalis is soft-stemmed with 3 leaflets; geranium is woody-based with palmately lobed leaves.; vs Bowlesia: Oxalis has clover-like leaves with 3 leaflets; Bowlesia has kidney-shaped undivided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oxalis californica native to California?
Yes. Oxalis californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oxalis californica bloom?
Oxalis californica blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Oxalis californica grow?
Oxalis californica occurs in Santa Barbara, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, at elevations of < 2035 m.
What plant family does Oxalis californica belong to?
Oxalis californica is in the Oxalidaceae family, genus Oxalis.
What habitat does Oxalis californica grow in?
Oxalis californica grows in Coastal scrub, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.