Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Broad-leaved Dock

Rumex obtusifolius

Typically in season from April to September, peaking around April to August in the northern hemisphere. Found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Waterside. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Photo: guywallbanks · CC BY

When Broad-leaved Dock is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to August. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in July

Where it grows

Broad-leaved Dock is usually found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Waterside.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Deadly look-alikes: Foxglove, Comfrey, Greater burdock. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Broad-leaved Dock into the field

Open Broad-leaved Dock in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Broad-leaved Dock: common questions

When is Broad-leaved Dock in season?

Broad-leaved Dock is generally in season from April to September, with its peak around April to August in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Broad-leaved Dock grow?

Broad-leaved Dock is usually found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Waterside.

Is Broad-leaved Dock safe to forage?

Deadly look-alikes: Foxglove, Comfrey, Greater burdock. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits