Willow Dock

Rumex salicifolius

Willow Dock

Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Polygonaceae
Genus:
Rumex
Species:
Rumex salicifolius

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
3-4 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr, may, jun
Bloom Colors:
Red, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Chalceria rubida, Epidemia helloides, Gaeides xanthoides

Reported Fauna Sightings

Butterflies:Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Common Ringlet (North America) (Coenonympha california), Common Ringlet (North America) (Coenonympha california), Crescents (Phyciodes Hübner), (Thymelicus lineola), (Thymelicus lineola), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Peck's Skipper (Polites coras), Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles), Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles), Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, well-drained sandy or loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Commonly found along streambanks and wet meadows.

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Germination occurs at 32D/22N C alternating temperature cycle.

Establishment: Seeds are collected between July 19th and September 19th. Mature inflorescences are brown. R. salicifolius is found in moist places, up to 6500 feet elevation; from California to Alaska, south through the Rocky Mountain states to New Mexico, east across Canada to Quebec and New York. It is also found in Europe.

Source: npn.rngr.net