Yellow wood sorrel has foliage that resembles that of clover, except that the foliage usually looks as if it has been folded up the center of each leaf.1 The flowers of yellow wood sorrel are bright yellow, measure approximately 1/2 of an inch, and are made up of five petals. The plant forms thick clumps in the open ground such as lawns and flower beds.The weed spreads both through horizontal stems and seeds that take root where it touches the soil. Both self-propagation methods are prolific. The seed pods hold about 10 to 50 seeds but can hold up to 5,000 seeds—giving it more opportunities to destroy gardens. Upon maturation, the pod distributes seeds as far away as 10 feet. They can even get stuck on garden tools, clothing, pets, and other wildlife. The seeds set from late summer through fall. The roots are complex and far-reaching and difficult to pull. Tugging at the stems of wood sorrel merely breaks the top portion away, leaving the root network to resprout.
