Rumex flexuosus Twister

The Rumex flexuosus 'Twister' is a variety of Bronze Sorrel, an uncommon New Zealand plant similar to Common Sorrel. It forms a disordered tuft of elongated leaves, colored in a copper-red shade. The leaves of this variety are both edible and highly decorative. They have a distinctive taste, reminiscent of lemon, acidic and sour. This hardy perennial plant can be grown as a vegetable or ornamental plant in pots or in the garden. In cooking, the leaves can be consumed raw, in salads or cooked like sorrel. Sow it in open ground from March to May and harvest as needed, from April to October.

Bronze Sorrel belongs to the family Polygonaceae and is native to New Zealand. The 'Twister' variety thrives in cool, slightly acidic, and well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. In the sun, its foliage is more colorful. Its long lanceolate leaves display beautiful copper-bronze to red hues. The plant flowers in June-July, with branched floral stems of reddish-bronze color adorned with tiny brown flowers. The leaves have a tangy, slightly acidic flavor that is appreciated in cooking, where they can be prepared like spinach. They accompany meats and fish (especially salmon), soups, or omelettes. Cook the leaves in a stainless steel container due to their acidity. The leaves of this variety are often consumed raw, in salads. The plant is hardy up to approximately -15 °C (5°F) (USDA zone 7).

Bronze Sorrel can be grown in open ground or in pots. Hardy, it remains in place for several years.

In ornamental gardens: Rumex flexuosus Twister pairs beautifully with yellow blooms: consider, for example, combining it with ligularias or Lysimachia nummularia.

Harvesting: Pick as needed, when the leaves are young or ripe, from spring to frost. Harvest leaf by leaf, by hand or with a knife. If you want to extend the harvest into winter, protect the plants with tunnels or frames. Sorrel is a perennial plant that can remain in place for several years.

Storage: Sorrel leaves should be consumed immediately after harvest, as they do not keep well. However, after cooking, they freeze very well.

Gardener's tip: To reduce watering, we recommend mulching the soil with thin successive layers of grass clippings, if possible mixed with dead leaves. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also reduces weed growth.