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- Dock, Curly
Dock, Curly
(Rumex crispus) Perennial in the Buckwheat Family, native to Eurasia. Narrow, wavy-edged leaves, green in Spring, yellow and red in Fall. Stems reddish, roots yellow. Flower spikes 3-6′ high. A remarkably useful plant for food, medicine and dye. Every garden should have some Dock and some Plantago in the garden for treating bee-stings on the spot; simply macerate leaves and apply to injury. Young foliage edible as a survival food. Deep tap roots a high source of iron and used medicinally for detoxification and constipation. Roots and leaves produce dye; leaves make different colors depending on time of year harvested. Interchangeable with Yellow Dock; perhaps leaf shape of Curly Dock has more ornamental value. Seed stalks left on the plant provide winter forage for birds. Entirely drought-tolerant once established. Self-sows enthusiastically.
Planting suggestions: Thrives on poor, disturbed soils, including heavy clay. Full sun. Direct-sow seeds around time of Final Frost, or earlier. Like many uncultivated plants, germination might be erratic and spread out over time. Thin to 6-18” apart. Cook leaves before eating, as they are high in oxalic acid. Dig roots in Fall.
Contains 200 seeds.