General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Moderately alkaline (7.9 – 8.4)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9a
Plant Height: 18 to 36 inches
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Red
Other: Green, maturing to red
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Will Naturalize
Dynamic Accumulator: P (Phosphorus)
K (Potassium)
Ca (Calcium)
Fe (Iron)
Wildlife Attractant: Butterflies
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Pollinators: Wind

Image
Common names
  • Bitter Dock
  • Broad-Leaved Dock
  • Butter Dock
  • Round-Leaved Dock

Photo Gallery
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland UK
Date: 2023-06-07
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland UK
Date: 2023-06-07
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland UK
Date: 2023-06-07
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland UK
Date: 2023-07-25
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland UK
Date: 2023-06-07
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House grounds)
Date: May 1, 2023
Bitter dock #437; RAB p. 405, 63-2-9; AG p. 438, 89-3-5b, "Ancien
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (April 2022)
Date: 2022-04-30

photo credit: H. Zell

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-08-21 
Popped up in a container on my deck.
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-06-14
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-06-14
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-06-14
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-06-14
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-06-14
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Nature reserve, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-05-21
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Dec 3, 2011 1:32 AM concerning plant:
    Historically this plant was a folk remedy used as a laxative. Scientific studies have validated this, but mostly the young leaves of bitter dock may be eaten fresh as a salad or cooked like spinach.

    The root yields a yellow dye.
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