Rumex patientia
English spinach
Common names: vegetable sorrel, evergreen spinach, garden sorrel
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
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Description
English spinach (*Rumex patientia*) is a hardy perennial vegetable sorrel that produces mild, spinach‑like leaves early in spring, well before true spinach ripens. The plant forms robust clumps, reliably regrows each year, and survives harsh winters without protection. Compared to common sorrel, its leaves are noticeably milder and less sour, making them suitable for raw salads or steamed like spinach. Once established, it requires little care and yields reliably for many years.
Care instructions
Plant English spinach in a sunny to partially shaded spot with fertile, moist soil for best growth. Keep the root zone consistently moist, especially during dry early spring weeks, to keep leaves tender and prevent premature bitterness. Regularly cut back outer leaves to encourage new growth and delay flowering. Remove flower stems early if you wish to maintain leaf quality for as long as possible. Divide clumps every few years in spring to keep the plant vigorous. A mulch layer in autumn protects roots through winter.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, humus-rich, nutrient-rich, loamy
Feeding
Medium feeder
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