Rumex crispus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROO-meks KRISP-us
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Curly dock is a long-lived perennial weed in the buckwheat family. It occurs at sites with full sun, moist to dry conditions, and tolerates most soil types. It withstands drought, temporary flooding, and occasional mowing. The seeds of this plant can remain viable for up to 50 years.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rumex
- Species:
- crispus
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa, Eurasia
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Each flower becomes a dry capsule with one seed. Seeds are dark brown and 3-angled, tapering at their tips.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Description:
- The inflorescent is a panicle of racemes with whorls of flowers ½–1½' long. Individual flowers are 1/8 inch long, have no petals and are yellowish-green three-winged sepals that turn brown at maturity. They are wind-pollinated.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rosette of basal leaves about 1 foot across. Stem leaves are 6 inches long and 1 inch across, alternate and oblong-lanceolate. Basal leaves are similar but larger. The leaves have very wavy margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The flower stem is hairless and ribbed.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
