trefle.io · Taken Jun 10, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)
Polygonaceae
Bitter dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Also known as Broad-leaved dock, Lapathum obtusifolium, Blunt-leaved dock, Butter dock
Native Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Dock · Weed · Medicinal · Hardy · Perennial · Wild · Naturalized · Edible · Foraging
Bitter dock is an extremely hardy perennial weed that thrives in poor soils with minimal care. It tolerates neglect and various growing conditions, making it suitable only for wild gardens or naturalized areas. This plant is primarily grown for its historical medicinal uses rather than ornamental value.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply when soil surface is dry · Every 10-14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7
- Temperature
- -30°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 2 ft – 5 ft
- Spread
- 3 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Aleutian Is., Algeria, Altay, Amsterdam-St.Paul Is, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia
- Attracts
- Bees
Sources: trefle, usda
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