Rumex sanguineus var. sanguineus
red water dock
This pond plant is semi-evergreen, so it can lose some of its foliage in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose it all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
- Position: full sun
- Depth of water: 0-5cm (0-2”)
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to July
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Emerging from its tap-rooted base, Rumex sanguineus var. sanguineus showcases a vibrant display of mid- to dark green leaves, each adorned with strikingly prominent beetroot red veins that trace intricate patterns across their oblong forms. As early summer arrives, the plant sends forth upright flower stems, branching gracefully and bearing tiny, star-shaped flowers that transition from green to a rich hue of red, eventually giving way to dark brown fruit. This herbaceous perennial forms dense clumps of foliage, and is suitable for a range of soil moistures and types, but is particularly glamorous for boggy, marginal areas.
Grow in boggy soil, still or slow moving water up to 0-5cm (0-2”) deep. Plants benefit from a hard clipping back after blooming, to rejuvenate the foliage. Lift and divide large clumps in early spring before the plant has flowered. To limit the plant's spread restrict it in an aquatic plant basket and remove unwanted growth in early spring before flowering.
- Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten in large amounts