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Herbaceous Perennial

Rumex crispus

curled dock

A vigorous, tap-rooted perennial with pointed, wavy-edged leaves and tall, stiff flowering stems supporting a narrow column of very small, reddish green flowers, the stem and seeds turning rich brown in autumn and persisting into winter

Other common names

yellow dock

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Polygonaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten in large amounts. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Harmful if eaten in large amounts - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Rumex can be annuals, biennials or perennials with mostly basal, simple leaves and erect panicles or racemes of small greenish or reddish flowers followed by reddish-brown, triangular fruits
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows naturally in any reasonably fertile soil and found particularly in grassland, road verges, waste areas and cultivated ground. Can be a persistent garden weed

Propagation

Spreads readily by seed; root sections also regrow

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Wildflower meadow

Pruning

Cut back prior to seed setting to avoid self-seeding

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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