American Golden Dock
Rumex fueginus
Last reviewed: August 2026
American Golden Dock is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 8"–18" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AR, AZ, CA, CO and 31 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Rumex fueginus is a lesser-known dock species that forms clumps of broad, paddle-shaped leaves. This perennial produces tall spikes of small reddish-brown flowers during summer months. It tolerates partial sun conditions and prefers consistently moist soil.
In an HOA neighborhood
American Golden Dock takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Dock species often considered weedy by traditional gardeners
- Large leaves can look untidy as they age
- May self-seed aggressively
Wildlife value
The flowers provide nectar for small flies and beetles, though it's not a major pollinator plant. Seeds may attract some birds in late summer.
Common questions
- How much sun does American Golden Dock need?
- American Golden Dock grows best in part sun conditions.
- When does American Golden Dock bloom?
- American Golden Dock blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is American Golden Dock native?
- American Golden Dock (Rumex fueginus) is native to AR, AZ, CA, CO and 31 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is American Golden Dock toxic to dogs?
- Yes. American Golden Dock is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is American Golden Dock toxic to cats?
- Yes. American Golden Dock is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is American Golden Dock HOA-friendly?
- American Golden Dock takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like American Golden Dock and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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