Curled Dock (Rumex crispus)

Family: Polygonaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Rumex crispus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to October, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

pleasant tasting. — Leaves - raw or cooked.; They can also be dried for later use.; The leaves can be added to salads, cooked as a potherb or added to soups.; Only the very young leaves should be used, preferably before the stems have developed, and even these are likely to be bitter.

Habitat & North American Range

Growing almost anywhere, it is found especially in grassy places, waste ground, roadsides and near sand dunes and is a serious weed of agriculture. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)