Rumex Species, Bloodwort, Bloody Dock, Red-Veined Dock, Red-Veined Sorrel

Rumexsanguineus

Genus
Rumex (ROO-meks)
Species
sanguineus (san-GWIN-ee-us)
Synonym
Acetosa sanguinea
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Smooth
Height
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Chartreuse (yellow-green)
Maroon/Burgundy
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Cullman, Alabama

Wetumpka, Alabama

Searcy, Arkansas

Anderson, California

Clayton, California

Clovis, California

Fairfield, California

Fremont, California

Palo Alto, California

Richmond, California

San Leandro, California

Santa Cruz, California

Walnut Creek, California

Lawrenceville, Georgia

Boise, Idaho

Payette, Idaho

Palmyra, Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Eudora, Kansas

Skowhegan, Maine

Temple, Maine

Roslindale, Massachusetts

Charlevoix, Michigan

Highland, Michigan

Livonia, Michigan

Ludington, Michigan

Owosso, Michigan

Pinconning, Michigan

Minneapolis, Minnesota(2 reports)

Mount Vernon, Missouri

Westphalia, Missouri

Mount Laurel, New Jersey

Whitehouse Station, New Jersey

Ogdensburg, New York

West Islip, New York

West Kill, New York

Durham, North Carolina

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Cincinnati, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Coshocton, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio

Glouster, Ohio

Portland, Oregon

Freedom, Pennsylvania

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

Regina, Saskatchewan

Columbia, South Carolina

Isle Of Palms, South Carolina

Okatie, South Carolina

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Sumter, South Carolina

Christiana, Tennessee

Clarksville, Tennessee

Toone, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Fate, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

Princeton, Texas

Tyler, Texas

Leesburg, Virginia

Roanoke, Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia

Bellevue, Washington

Concrete, Washington

Kalama, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Vancouver, Washington

Twin Lakes, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

16
positives
6
neutrals
2
negatives
Sort By:
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S
Regina, SK (Zone 3b) | April 2016 | positive

This a great accent plant , the dark red veins contrast vividly against the lime green leaves.
Does best with partial shade unles...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | May 2014 | neutral

A handsome foliage plant.

This last winter was colder than average (Boston Z6a). The plants in one garden died, and those ...Read More

R
R
Eudora, KS | March 2012 | positive

We love our Bloody Dock. I bought ours 3 years ago.. and have not seen it since.. Looked everywhere.. this year we have started to weed t...Read More

I
I
Bellevue, WA (Zone 8a) | June 2011 | positive

I love this plant...so much that I am willing to work to manage its bad habits.

The good: beautifully veined leaves postiv...Read More

N
| July 2010 | positive

I dug it up from a friends house it was in a semi shady spot I put it in semi sunny spot and it is a clump 1 foot squared not shure how o...Read More

M
Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) | June 2010 | neutral

Survives a zone 4 winter - but doesn't always come back each year. Seem to do better in a large container in the pond.

E
Annapolis, MD | April 2010 | positive

I planted it last year and it stayed evergreen thru the 2010 blizzard,,,,
Seems to do well next to my pond in a very wet boggy soi...Read More

D
(Anita) Fort Wayne, IN (Zone 6a) | December 2009 | positive

I am in zone 5 and started this plant from seed. It has gotten quite a bit bigger over the years. When I moved the plant to a full sun ...Read More

S
Portland, OR | May 2009 | neutral

This is a beautiful plant. The foilage alone is what helped with the decision to purchase it. I haven't ever heard of it but, plan on f...Read More

V
Antioch, TN | May 2009 | positive

I have been growing this plant now for 3yrs and it has not grown much for me or invade. It does like moist soil so my dry clay soil was ...Read More

C
Walnut Creek, CA | April 2009 | neutral

Interesting to see the variations of form/color between all the pictures uploaded of this Dock/Sorrel. Is it because they are subspecie...Read More

D
Ogdensburg, NY | July 2008 | negative

So invasive it will make you cry.

I have HUGE holes all over my back garden from trying to dig this stuff out. We'll see ...Read More

L
Monroe, MI | July 2008 | negative

HELP! I love this plant, or did at first, then by the second year it totally invaded my entire landscape. I dug up the original plants b...Read More

T
Roanoke, VA | June 2008 | positive

Like some others, I have to chuckle when I see the suggestion to avoid overwatering. I too bought this plant as one for my pond and it i...Read More

F
F
Columbia, SC | January 2007 | positive

In partial shade, Rumex looks outstanding all year in my Southeastern garden. Very easy to grow from winter sowed seed, Rumex makes a lovely edger.

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | positive

This is such an interesting foliage plant. I bought a gallon one and divided it in two. One I put in the flower bed, and one in the pon...Read More

M
| September 2004 | neutral

I just bought this plant today at a nursery specializing in herbs. It was being sold as an edible. I thought the leaf would look nice a...Read More

C
West Kill, NY | July 2004 | positive

I have lost this plant over the winter on occasion, but continue to grow it. I am on the border between zones 4 and 5. Snow cover seems m...Read More

S
Tellico Plains, TN (Zone 7b) | July 2004 | positive

Really like this plant but I had to relocate it due to excessive wilting in full sun. So now it resides where it only gets morning sun.

H
Evergreen Park, IL | June 2004 | positive

I love the look of the bloody dock and it's easy to grow. However, I had to relocate it when it began to take over the other plants in it...Read More

P
Wilmington, VT | May 2004 | positive

We are firmly into zone 4 and our bloody dock came back after a severely cold winter. Even bigger than last year.

H
Northern California, CA | September 2003 | positive

It is Sept 1st and this rumex has been cut back twice since April, getting ready to flower again.

H
Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6b) | July 2003 | positive

I bought this as a "Depth 2" water garden plant (=water level from plant crown up to 6" deep) and have been growing it for a month now in...Read More

B
B
Baa
| September 2001 | neutral

Perennial from Europe and North Africa. Has large, broad, lance shaped, mid green leaves with deep red veining up to 6 inches long. Bear...Read More

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