Curly dock
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Rumex crispus
Common weed; not an A/B/C listing in the reviewed state rule. CO-rules-2025
Soluble oxalates; persistent roots and seeds. Exposure help.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Other animals. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.
Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Dock species and hybrids can overlap. Source identification is retained; the selected fruit view shows a valve and tubercle, while leaf shape alone is insufficient.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Douglas Goldman · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Dock species and hybrids can overlap. Source identification is retained; the selected fruit view shows a valve and tubercle, while leaf shape alone is insufficient.
iNaturalist large server-resized photo; no crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Douglas Goldman · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Dock species and hybrids can overlap. Source identification is retained; the selected fruit view shows a valve and tubercle, while leaf shape alone is insufficient.
iNaturalist large server-resized photo; no crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
A basal rosette and upright stems with long, wavy-edged leaves; green flower clusters mature to brown seed structures. N-rumex-crispus
Plants & habitat
A Colorado weed of disturbed land. Its long-lived root and persistent seeds allow survival through mowing and changing moisture. C-descriptions N-rumex-crispus
People
The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for people. Missing evidence does not establish safety.
Dogs & cats
NC State flags dogs and cats and reports soluble oxalates, salivation, tremors and possible kidney injury; it describes kidney failure as rare in these pets. N-rumex-crispus
Other animals
The source flags horses, but does not establish a safe forage quantity. N-rumex-crispus
Evidence scope: Source hazard flag; limited horse clinical detail.
Before taking action
Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27
References
- CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
- N-rumex-crispus — rumex crispus — Plant Toolbox, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:21:11+00:00. Locator: Species identity, description, ecology, toxicity.
- C-descriptions — Weed descriptions, Colorado State University Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:24:02+00:00. Locator: Species entries.
- S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.