Plant Details

Rumex sanguineus

Red-Veined Dock, Redvein dock, Sorrel, Bloody Dock

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Common names

32 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Blood Dock[2]
  • Blood Sorrel[2]
  • Bloody Dock[2]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • Red-Veined Dock
  • Redvein dock
  • Sorrel
  • Wood dock[1][2]
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • Bloedzuring[2]
French
  • Oseille sanguine[2]
  • Patience sanguine[2]
Bulgarian
  • Кървавочервен лапад[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 红脉酸模[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 紅脈酸模[2]
Czech
  • šťovík krvavý[2]
Danish
  • Skov-skræppe[2]
Finnish
  • verihierakka[2]
German
Hungarian
  • erdei lórom[2]
Italian
  • romice sanguineo[2]
Japanese
  • ニセアレチギシギシ[2]
Mapudungun
  • Llüfollüfo[2]
Norwegian
  • skoghøymol[2]
Polish
  • Szczaw gajowy[2]
Russian
  • Щавель красный[2]
  • Щавель кроваво-красный[2]
  • Щавель кровяной[2]
Slovak
  • štiav krvavý[2]
Spanish
  • Acedera sanguínea[2]
Swedish
  • blodskräppa[2]
  • skogsskräppa[2]
  • vanlig skogsskräppa[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rumex sanguineus L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Blut-Ampfer — VernacularName.tsv, line 150262; taxon 4TPWQ.
  • Hain-Ampfer (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 150263; taxon 4TPWQ.
  • Wood dock (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 150264; taxon 4TPWQ.
[2] Rumex sanguineus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Wood Dock — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Oseille sanguine — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • šťovík krvavý — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Hain-Ampfer — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Blut-Ampfer — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Skov-skræppe — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Bloedzuring — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Patience sanguine — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • skoghøymol — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • verihierakka — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Szczaw gajowy — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • ニセアレチギシギシ — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Щавель кровяной — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Щавель кроваво-красный — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Щавель красный — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • 红脉酸模 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • skogsskräppa — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • romice sanguineo — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • 紅脈酸模 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • erdei lórom — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Bloody Dock — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Кървавочервен лапад — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • štiav krvavý — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Llüfollüfo — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Acedera sanguínea — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • vanlig skogsskräppa — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Blood Dock — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • blodskräppa — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.
  • Blood Sorrel — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 168250; Rumex sanguineus.

General information

Scientific name: Rumex sanguineus
Accepted name (Kew): Rumex sanguineus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Polygonaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Rumex (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Red-Veined Dock, Redvein dock, Sorrel, Bloody Dock
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Clumping

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
None

Description

Young leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked and serve as an alternative to spinach. They have a fairly mild flavor when they are still young and can work well as a replacement for spinach. Additionally, they are suitable for mixed salads, but it is important to add them in moderation. Note that the leaves become bitter as they age.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 152936; name ID 2425606; Rumex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 153505; name ID 2424767; Rumex sanguineus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rumex sanguineus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1163038, ID 4TPWQ: Rumex sanguineus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Rumex sanguineus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .