Foraging for Broadleaf Dock in Western Oregon: Your Complete Harvesting Manual

By Nestucca Valley Sporting Goods & Little Nestucca Deli

Broadleaf dock (Rumex obtusifolius, also known as bitter or butter dock), is one of my favorite wild edible plants because:

• I can harvest it most months of the year
• Wild broadleaf dock is easy to identify
• I use all parts of the plant
• It thrives in a variety of environments
• Broadleaf dock has a long shelf life in your refrigerator
• It has multiple uses
• Preparing and storing your Oregon broadleaf dock is simple
• And more!

As we cover the points listed above...

Be assured that my information is sourced from my years of successfully harvesting this plant...

…including pointers from other foragers I trust.

This is a young, local, broadleaf dock plant from early in the year.  I harvested leaves,stems, and seeds from it multiple times throughout the fall...

Those harmless spots are from the cold, wet, and warm temperature fluctuations early in the year

Those harmless spots are from the cold, wet, and warm temperature fluctuations early in the year

When Can I Harvest Broadleaf Dock?

I live in the foothills of the Oregon central coast range.  Generally... I can harvest this plant from April – November.  I've actually picked it sporadically throughout the winter in isolated, warmer, sheltered micro-climates.

Lower elevations tend to have a longer growing season, while the season is shorter at higher or shadier areas.

Wild Broadleaf Dock Leaves

The leaves of the plant are available April – November.  It's best to harvest the leaves before or after the seed stalks are developing for optimum nutrition...

But I make exceptions if I need a batch  :-)

Roots

Although it makes sense that the roots are most nutritious when the other plant parts aren't developing... as with leaves... I do make exceptions.  Harvest the roots during the winter, but... the above-ground plant parts, except for some seed stalks, are gone.  Locating the roots becomes difficult at this time.

Seeds and Seed Stalks

I harvest the seeds during all stages... from early development until the winter months, when the only remaining part of the plant is the seed stalk.  I've seen some seed stalks last throughout the winter!

Wild Broadleaf Dock Harvesting Exceptions

My brother has a large metal shop with a southern exposure receiving lots of sun (when available) during the winter.  I occasionally make a trip to this little wild foraging micro-climate during the cold weather months.

Identifying My Favorite Wild Plant: Dockweed!

Positive identification is easy.  This is the first plant that I picked when I started harvesting wild edibles because of this feature (and availability).

Whole Plant in General

A young dockweed plant will appear as a rosette of leaves, close to the ground, then bush-like, and finally more vertical.  As the plant grows and matures in the region where I live... it will reach heights of 4-5' to the top of the seed stalk (which develops later in the summer).

The stalks will extend vertically beyond the leaves and will be the only part of the plant visible... after the leaves die off... sometimes late into the winter.

Wild Broadleaf Dock Edible Leaves

The mature dock leaves are fairly wide and are sometimes called “Mother Nature's toilet paper."  The really young leaves, at times, seem to be narrower.  There are two other types of wild dockweed (that I know of)...

Curly dock and sheep's sorrel, and both are edible:

• Size:  I've harvested leaves up to a foot long and 5-6 inches wide!
• Texture:  The surface of wild, broadleaf dock leaves are smooth
• Appearance:  The edges are slightly rippled.  Leaves are a vibrant green. There is a distinct vein running up the middle (sometimes red) of the broadleaf dock leaf, with smaller veins branching off of it.  I've harvested oval and oblong dock leaves, although I've heard that the leaves can be spear-shaped. 
  
  The underside is a lighter shade of green.  Early and late season wild broadleaf dock leaves seem to develop spots, probably due to the moisture and colder temperatures.  I harvest them anyway, unless they're really damaged.

Stem of the Dockweed Plant

You'll notice a light groove running the entire length.  The large, mature plants are supported by a fairly thick, central stem which, along with the mature seeds, may appear reddish-brown. 

Young stems are green.  Keep in mind... my observations are based on the plants I see and harvest... the broadleaf dock stems in your area might appear slightly different.  When the leaves are gone... you'll see the tall seed stalks towering over the other vegetation through the winter!

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