Meet the neighbours · herb
Sorrel
Often called 'Lemon Sorrel' for its bright, gently lemony flavour — prized in both European and Asian cooking.
Sorrel is the early spring neighbour that tastes like a squeeze of lemon over the garden. Often called 'Lemon Sorrel,' its bright, gently tart flavour is prized in both European and Asian cooking, and it is one of the earliest garden greens ready each spring.
It has been described as "lemonade in a leaf" — historically used to add tartness to dishes long before citrus made its way to Europe.
How to grow it
- Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil that still holds moisture.
- A hardy perennial that comes back year after year — and one of the first fresh greens ready each spring, usually by early to mid May.
- Very deep-rooted, which makes it low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established.
- Snip as needed all season; cut back hard to encourage fresh growth.
How to use & eat it
- Add young leaves to salads for a lemony zip.
- Stir into soups and sauces at the end of cooking.
- Make a classic French sorrel soup with potatoes and cream.
- Popular worldwide: steamed with onion and tomato in Nigeria, cooked into lentil soups in India, made into sour soups in Eastern Europe, and added to spanakopita in Greece.
- Contains oxalic acid like spinach and chard, so moderation is key — a squeeze of lemon juice helps offset it.
- Sorrel Sauce: gently simmer 2/3 cup heavy cream. In a separate pot, melt 1/4 cup butter and sauté about a dozen thinly sliced sorrel leaves until cooked down, then stir in the hot cream. Thin with 1/4 cup stock if needed and season with salt and pepper. Excellent over fish, chicken, or roasted potatoes.
Makes friends with
Companion planting is just good neighbouring — these do better beside Sorrel.
DillChamomileCalendula
Other neighbours
- DillSelf-seeding but best resown yearly — a lacy, 3-foot-tall herb that loves to stand among cucumbers.
- Calendula (Pot Marigold)Hardy, self-seeding, vibrant flowers with edible, lightly peppery petals — great in salads and as a soothing tea.
- ChamomileA common name for several daisy-like plants in the Asteraceae family — three chamomiles make a gentle, calming infusion.