Pink Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Articulata) イモカタバミ（芋酢漿草、芋片喰）

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There are two types of pink wood sorrel, Oxalis articulata (those in this post) and Oxalis debilis. Both are native to South America but can now be found across Japan. 

The two are often confused but it's easy to tell which is which. Oxalis articulata is deeper pink and has a dark purple flower center and yellow anthers while Oxalis debilis is paler pink, having a pale yellowish green center and white anthers. Another big difference is in underground systems. Oxalis articulata has underground stems (i.e., rhizomes) like potatoes while Oxalis debilis grows from bulbils. This difference can be seen in Oxalis articulata's Japanese name "imo katabami," which translates into "potato wood sorrel," although poteto's underground stems are not rhizomes but tubers.

2026/5/18

Pink Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Debilis) ムラサキカタバミ（紫酢漿草）

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Pink wood sorrel (Oxalis debilis) is native to South America, introduced to Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) for aesthetic appeal. There are two types of pink wood sorrel, Oxalis debilis and Oxalis articulata. Both are pink but Oxalis debilis (those in this post) is a little bluish and paler. For a more detailed description of the differences between the two pink wood sorrel, read the post about Oxalis articulata.  

2026/5/17

Creeping Woodsorrel (Oxalis Corniculata) 酢漿草（カタバミ）

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Creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) can be found across the globe, including Japan. The plant produces yellow flowers from April to October and fruits almost at the same time. The bright yellow flower is just 1 cm in diameter, so tiny that it may have been unnoticed. The leaves and stems are edible although they taste sour as suggested by the name Oxalis (and sour grass) and as well as its Japanese name "katabami," which translates into "sour grass."

Despite its unnoticeable presence, the plant is used as a family crest in Japan due to its strong vitality and hardiness to represent life force.  

2026/5/10

Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis Pes-Caprae) オオキバナカタバミ（大黄花酢漿草）

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The bright yellow caught my eye. Bermuda buttercups (Oxalis pes-caprae) are native to South Africa but can be found across Japan. The oxalis usually blooms from March to May but I think it flowers almost throughout the year or am I mistaken? The Bermuda buttercup's leaves have purple spots, which is a key to distinguishing them from other oxalises. They're hardy and flower nearly throughout the year, which makes me think of growing them myself.  

2021/4/10

2025/1/4

Purple Woodsorrel (Oxalis Purpurea) フヨウカタバミ（芙蓉酢漿草）

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Purple woodsorrel (Oxalis purpurea) is native to South Africa. The plant came to Japan in the late 18th century and now can be found across Japan. Purple woodsorrel produces pink and white flowers from April to July in general but when warm from November to March, too. Its Japanese name is "fuyou katabami," which translates into "rose marrow woodsorrel" because of its resemblance to rose marrow. 

2025/11/16

2025/11/16

Red-Flower Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Bowiei) ハナカタバミ（花酢漿草）

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These are red-flower wood sorrels (Oxalis bowiei), growing in the pot for sasanqua camellias. A friend of mine loves growing plants and showed her sasanqua camellias but my attention was drawn to these tiny pink flowers.

Red-flower wood sorrel (Oxalis bowiei)　ハナカタバミ（花酢漿草）

Oxalis Debilis (Pink Sorrel) 紫酢漿草（ムラサキカタバミ）

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I went to the Tokyo National Museum last week and found two types of wood sorrel there. One is white oxalis (wood sorrel) and the other is this pink sorrel. I'm now wondering how many colors oxalis has...😉

Oxalis debilis　紫酢漿草

 

Pink sorrel　ムラサキカタバミ

White Oxalis (Wood Sorrel) 白花酢漿草（シロバナカタバミ）

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These are white wood sorrel (Oxalis) in the garden of the Kujokan tea house in the Tokyo National Museum. I've been to the museum many times, but have spent more and more time walking in the garden and photographing plants than inside the museum seeing the paintings and artifacts😆! I saw annual blue-eyed grass, too. You can enjoy not only art but also plants at the Tokyo National Museum! 

White oxalis in front of the Kujokan tea house　九条館前の白花酢漿草

White wood sorrel　シロバナカタバミ

Oxalis Corniculata (Creeping Woodsorrel) 酢漿草（カタバミ）

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These are Oxalis corniculata (yellow) or more commonly known as creeping woodsorrel at Yanaka Cemetery in Ueno, Tokyo. The cemetery is large and famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, but these small roadside flowers in autumn are not bad, are they? 

2022/10/31

2022/10/31

Oxalis Purpurea Can Be White😆 白の芙蓉酢漿草

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This is Oxalis purpurea or more commonly known as purple woodsorrel. The name says it's purple, but the flower can be white or pink. Because I took these pictures right after the sunrise, they still seem sleepy...😪

Spring is a time of rebirth, which always makes me feel excited but at the same time nervous because to be reborn, I need to leave my comfort zone...

Purple woodsorrel フヨウカタバミ

Oxalis Crassipes Alba (White Wood Sorrel) 白い酢漿草（カタバミ）

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They're oxalis crassipes alba or more commonly known as white wood sorrel blooming at the garden of the Kujokan teahouse in Tokyo National Museum. The white color against the green leaves is so beautiful. 

I visit the museum several times a year, but these days I go there to see netsuke on show indoors and plants and bugs in the garden rather than paintings and artefacts. Sadly for the museum, but luckily for visitors, the museum is quiet and relaxing with few people. If you have a chance to come to Tokyo after the pandemic, you should definitely go there. After enjoying art, you can also enjoy nice Japanese food and sake in Yanaka Ginza district!    

Oxalis crassipes alba 白い酢漿草

Kujokan teachouse in Tokyo National Museum 東京国立博物館の九条館

Oxalis Debilis (Pink Woodsorrel) 紫酢漿草

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This is oxalis debilis or commonly pink woodsorrel, the fourth woodsorrel I've found in my neighborhood following:

• oxalis stricta (yellow woodsorrel);
• oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel); and
• oxalis corniculata forma rubrifolia (creeping red woodsorrel).

Oxalis debilis 紫酢漿草

Oxalis Corniculata (Creeping Woodsorrel) and Oxalis Corniculata Forma Rubrifolia (Creeping Red Woodsorrel) 酢漿草（カタバミ）と赤酢漿草

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I wrote about oxalis or wood sorrels a few days ago. Then after that, I found this oxalis corniculata or creeping woodsorrel, which are also conspicuous for the bright yellow color, but much smaller than usual wood sorrels. And then I found another oxalis, i.e., oxalis corniculata forma rubrifolia or creeping red woodsorrel (see the third photo), whose petals are also bright yellow but leaves are dark red. 

Oxalis corniculata 酢漿草