How often to water bloody sorrel in California
In July in the Central Valley, established bloody sorrel in loam needs a deep watering about every 5 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.9 gallons a week. Bloody sorrel, also called red-veined dock, is a clumping perennial grown for its green leaves boldly veined in deep red-purple. It stays about a foot to 18 inches tall until it sends up 2 to 3 foot flower stalks in early summer. It grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, the kind found along ditches.
How often to water bloody sorrel, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- Soil dry an inch or two down around the rosette in summer signals bloody sorrel needs water
- Leaves flopping flat and losing their firmness can indicate thirst
- Leaf edges browning and crisping in hot sun can follow a dry root zone
- Yellowing outer leaves with soggy, airless soil suggest overwatering or poor drainage
How to water it
- Water at the base of the clump with drip or a gentle hose
- Soak 6 to 8 inches down, then water again as the top inch dries
- Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained soil
- Cut flower stalks to keep leaves coming and to prevent self-seeding
- Mulch lightly to hold moisture through summer
Through the seasons
Keep a new planting evenly moist while it establishes. Established clumps still want steady moisture through the warm months. Flower stalks rise in early summer, and cutting them keeps the plant leafy and stops self-seeding. Growth slows in winter, and rain usually keeps the clump moist until spring. In the Central Valley, WUCOLS rates bloody sorrel moderate water. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the north-central coast, the south coast, South Inland, the high desert or the low desert.
In pots
Bloody sorrel grows well in a medium pot, where its red-veined leaves sit at eye level for picking. Use moisture-holding, well-drained mix and water when the top inch dries. In warm sun a pot may need water daily. Let it drain and empty the saucer. Cut flower stalks to keep fresh leaves coming. In winter, water lightly as growth slows. Divide a crowded pot in spring.
- A year
- 17.11 gal per sq ft
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
Monthly water need by climate zone
Bloody Sorrel: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | – | 0.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Feb | – | 0.65 | – | – | – | – |
| Mar | – | 1.09 | – | – | – | – |
| Apr | – | 1.52 | – | – | – | – |
| May | – | 2.08 | – | – | – | – |
| Jun | – | 2.48 | – | – | – | – |
| Jul | – | 2.67 | – | – | – | – |
| Aug | – | 2.39 | – | – | – | – |
| Sep | – | 1.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Oct | – | 1.18 | – | – | – | – |
| Nov | – | 0.56 | – | – | – | – |
| Dec | – | 0.34 | – | – | – | – |
| Year | – | 17.11 | – | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like bloody sorrel. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
DahliasDahlia spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
FernsNephrolepis cordifolia (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
DayliliesHemerocallis spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
BegoniasBegonia & ssp. & cvs. (shade in the desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Calla LiliesZantedeschia aethiopica SHADE IN DESERTmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
SageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Bicolor MonkshoodAconitum cammarummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Garden MonkshoodAconitum napellusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Carpet BugleAjuga reptans (shade)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Snowdrop WindflowerAnemone sylvestrismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Mountain SandwortArenaria montanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Swamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Orange MilkweedAsclepias tuberosamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Greater MasterwortAstrantia majormoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Hardy BegoniaBegonia grandismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Wax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySimilar plants that need less water 16
Rated lower than bloody sorrel in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.
AgapanthusAgapanthus orientalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
GeraniumsPelargonium x hortorum and cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
SalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
IrisesIris germanicalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
SucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Russian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
YarrowAchillea millefolium (non-native hybrids)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Mountain AlyssumAlyssum montanumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Silver SageSalvia argentealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Purple MulleinVerbascum phoeniceumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Silvery YarrowAchillea clavennaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Fern Leaf YarrowAchillea filipendulinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
California Native YarrowAchillea millefolium (CA native cultivars)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Woolly YarrowAchillea tomentosalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Perennial HollyhockAlcea rosea cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Mountain Lady's MantleAlchemilla alpinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes bloody sorrel, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does bloody sorrel need per day?
In July in the Central Valley, established bloody sorrel needs about 0.3 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for bloody sorrel change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates bloody sorrel separately for each of the six California climate zones: not evaluated in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, not evaluated in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Can you eat bloody sorrel?
Young leaves are edible raw or cooked and have a tart flavor. Older leaves turn bitter. The plant carries a low poison rating, so eat it in moderation.
Should I cut off bloody sorrel flowers?
Yes, trimming the flower stalks encourages bushier leaf growth. It also prevents rampant self-seeding. Cut them as soon as they appear.
Does bloody sorrel spread?
It self-seeds freely if flower stalks are left to ripen. It has naturalized in parts of North America. Remove seedlings you do not want.
Can bloody sorrel grow in a wet spot?
It grows naturally in ditches where moisture is steady. Moist, well-drained soil suits it best. Avoid soil that stays waterlogged.
How do I start bloody sorrel?
Sow seed in spring or divide an established clump. Keep seedlings moist until they are growing well. Space plants about a foot apart.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Rumex sanguineus ssp sanguineus, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf