Bitter dock
Rumex obtusifolius · Polygonaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant bitter dock: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Blooming
- June to August, greenish flowers in panicles
- Adult size
- 24 to 47 inches in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -4°F
- Origin
- Europe, Western and Central Asia
- Soil type
- All types, even poor or compacted
Care
Watering
Wild patience tolerates drought well once established. Water moderately during prolonged dry spells, especially young plants. In natural conditions, it thrives on regular rainfall.
Light exposure
Prefers full sun to partial shade for optimal growth. Can adapt to less sunny areas but will flower more generously in full light.
Pruning and cutting
Annual mowing or cutting is recommended to limit seed dispersal and control expansion. Cut before seed maturation (late July). Can regrow after cutting.
Soil and amendments
Thrives in poorly drained, compacted, or poor soils where few other plants succeed. No specific amendments are needed; it's a very undemanding plant.
Pests and diseases
Very disease resistant. Rarely affected by pests due to its natural vigor. Watch for aphids in intensive cultivation, but intervention is rarely necessary.
Fertilizer
No fertilizer is needed. This hardy plant thrives without supplementation, even in poor soil.
Did you know?
Wild patience is a classic ecological indicator: its abundant presence often signals compacted and poorly drained soils, typical of overexploited pastures or pathways. In the Middle Ages, its acidic leaves rich in oxalate were used to clean tin and remove rust stains, before modern chemical methods replaced this ancestral use.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.