Swamp Dock

Rumex verticillatus

Swamp Dock

Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute.

Taxonomy

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

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
4-6 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
jun, aug
Bloom Colors:
White, Yellow

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Ontario, Quebec

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), Mesapamea passer, Hyllolycaena hyllus

Reported Fauna Sightings

Butterflies:Bronze Copper (Tharsalea hyllus), (Pieris rapae), (Pieris rapae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Sachem (Atalopedes Scudder), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, moisture-retentive loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
commonly found in wetlands and marshes