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Rumex, Genus, spp., Multiple species,

Genus
Multiple species

docks and sorrels

Polygonaceae

Worldwide, with the greatest diversity in the temperate Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Asia, North America)

Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–9

Overview

Rumex is a genus of roughly 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the Polygonaceae family, found on every continent but most diverse in north temperate regions. The genus splits informally into the docks, with large leaves and a sour or bitter taste, and the sorrels, with smaller, arrow-shaped leaves and a sharp lemony tang. Plants grow from a stout taproot and form a basal rosette of leaves 2-12 inches (5-30 cm) long, with a papery sheath (ocrea) wrapping the stem at each leaf joint, a feature shared across the family. Flowering stems rise 1-5 feet (30-150 cm) tall and carry many tiny green flowers in whorled, branching clusters that age to reddish brown. The wind-pollinated flowers give way to three-winged seeds, and a single plant can release thousands of long-lived seeds, which makes several species persistent weeds of pastures, gardens, and roadsides. Leaves and stems contain oxalic acid and soluble oxalates, which give the tart flavor but can poison grazing animals when eaten in quantity. Rumex acetosa and R. acetosella are grown as culinary sorrel, while R. crispus and R. obtusifolius spread widely as agricultural weeds. The deep taproot regrows from fragments and makes established plants hard to remove.

Native Range

Rumex occurs worldwide, with the greatest diversity in the temperate Northern Hemisphere across Europe, Asia, and North America. North American species include R. occidentalis and R. salicifolius, while several Eurasian species such as R. crispus have naturalized across the continent.

Suggested Uses

Sorrel species are grown in herb and vegetable gardens for their tart, lemony leaves. Some species are used in wildflower meadows and as larval host plants for copper butterflies. Most docks colonize disturbed ground, pasture, and waste places where they are managed as weeds.

How to Identify

Identify Rumex by a basal rosette of long leaves and a papery sheath (ocrea) at each stem node where the leaf meets the stalk. Tall, often reddish flower stalks carry dense whorls of small flowers that turn rusty brown as the winged, papery seeds ripen and hold on the dead stem into winter. Dock species have broad, wavy or flat leaves, while sorrels have narrow, arrow-shaped leaves with backward-pointing basal lobes. The persistent brown seed stalks stay visible long after most herbs have died back.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 5'

Width/Spread6" - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Flowers: May–August

Spring Summer

Flowering runs from late spring into summer, generally May to August depending on species and region. The small green flowers are wind-pollinated and produce no nectar, then turn reddish brown as the three-winged fruits mature. The dried, rust-colored seed heads persist on the stem through fall and winter. Sorrels often flower earlier than the larger docks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

green to reddish-brown

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5 (Acidic to alkaline)

3579

Soil Types

clay loam sand silt

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants in this genus grow in full sun to part shade and tolerate a wide range of soils from moist clay to dry sand across soil pH 5.5-7.5. Many species prefer damp, fertile ground but withstand drought once the taproot is deep. Seed germinates freely and seedlings establish within one season, often spreading beyond where they were sown. Cutting the top growth does not kill perennial species, which resprout from the crown and taproot. Few pests trouble the genus, though rust fungus and leaf-eating beetles attack some species. Hardiness spans USDA zones 3-9 depending on species.

Pruning

No routine pruning is needed. Cutting or pulling flower stalks before the seeds ripen limits self-sowing, the main way these plants spread. Removing the whole taproot is required to stop perennial species from regrowing.