Flowering late spring-summer. Waste places: roadsides, old fields and gardens, disturbed meadows; 0-1500 m; introduced; N.S; Maine, Vt.; c, s Europe; w Asia.

Rumex alpinus belongs to subsect. Alpini Rechinger f. The name R. alpinus has been proposed for nomenclatural conservation (S. Cafferty and S. Snogerup 2000).

This species was first reported from North America in Nova Scotia (M. L. Fernald 1921; K. H. Rechinger 1937). It remains uncommon in the United States and Canada. Rumex alpinus never has been reported as being a serious invasive weed; however, it may persist at a site for a very long time. Previously, the species was culti-vated widely, mostly for medicinal and veterinary purposes.