How to Grow and Care for Docks

Rumex crispus, commonly known as curly dock, is a perennial plant that grows in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is a very adaptable plant, flourishing in a variety of different habitats including roadsides, the edges of woodlands, meadows, and shorelines. Some moth species like to lay their eggs on curly dock leaves.

Bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius) grows wild in shady, temperate areas around the world. Its leaves and stems are edible when young, as are the seeds. It was used in Medieval European folk medicine, and the roots can be used to make yellow dye.

The green foliage of the herb sorrel has a tangy taste with little hints of citrus. It is often used in salads or cooked like spinach. It was once considered a vegetable, but it is now seen as a wild food plant. It is usually found on cliffs and coastal dunes.

Fiddle dock, or Rumex pulcher, is an edible weed found in North America. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and have a somewhat acidic flavor. They should be eaten in small quantities because oxalic acid in the plant can block nutrient absorption. Fiddle dock plants are a member of the buckwheat family and have a long taproot.

Garden sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is a flowering plant related to buckwheat. It can be found in acidic soil and tends to grow outside abandoned mines where other plants can't take hold. Farmers will often consider garden sorrel a weed; it is a particular problem for blueberry crops.