Rumex hymenosepalus

A Buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) perennial wildflower native to the arid Western United States and Northern Mexico with thick, waxy and wilt-resistant leaves. They are grey-green to bluish, often with wavy edges and they are ridged with a central channel to collect and send moisture down to its roots. Blooms grow 2 to 5 feet tall in late spring to early summer and reappear opportunistically later in the season.

Sand dock’s flowering stalk and seed heads can provide a beautiful display.  The flower stems emerge ranging from yellow-green with yellow to pink buds to pink to rosy-rust flower heads and young winged fruits that darken to rusts and browns at maturity all while providing a strong visual contrast with the bold foliage. It can be surprising to come upon these plants with such striking wide leaves compared to the surrounding arid region vegetation with its small and often grey foliage. In dry summer conditions leaves will die to the ground after blooming and seed set given enough spring moisture. Sand dock can re-emerge and bloom again if it receives enough rain or irrigation water.

Sand dock is a tough, very drought-tolerant plant that is well adapted to infrequent or low moisture availability. This is largely due to its network of thick, tuberous roots that often  grow deep in sandy or loose soils chasing after moisture and storing it in tissues for future use.

Sand dock is also called Tanner’s dock because of its high content of tannins useful in leather tanning as well as for natural dyeing processes. In dyeing, the roots can be used in the mordanting process of natural fibers, or as a substantive dye that yields tans, reddish brown, greens, and grays depending on modifiers.

Best grown in full sun to light shade.

Average to low water, possibly none after establishment.

Tolerates many soils including heavy clays, but prefers well-drained soils.

Direct sow seeds in early spring, or start indoors and transplant after danger of frost. Established plants can be divided in spring or fall.

USDA hardiness zones: 6 (at least)-10

Packet: 25 seeds