Common Names: Bistort, Fleece Flower.
Moisture loving plants with creeping stems and bottle brush flowers throughout the summer, normally in shades of pink and red. There varieties for the rock garden, border and even amphibious ones for the pond.
Whilst they prefer moist soil most will tolerate dry conditions but won't spread so much. Dead head spent blooms by pulling off the flowering stem at its base. This will ensure further flowers throughout the summer.
Propagate by division. Dig up and replant healthy sections every 2 or 3 years to keep in check and avoid the centres of clumps dying out.
Persicaria flowers are very attractive to bees and hoverflies.
Low creeping stems to 15cm. Pale pink flowers maturing to deep rose in spikes up to 25cm high. Leaves become tinted red in autumn. Flowers May through to September. The variety "Dimity" bred by Alan Bloom is said by the RHS to be identical to this one.
Massed flower spikes in a soft red that tone well with other plants. Forms a spreading clump up to 3ft tall in flower. Flowering from July to October.
Perfect partners with Lythrum Dropmore Purple for a vibrant planting composition in August.
Very pale pink flowers on 3ft - 4ft tall stems. Flower June to October.
Uniquely coloured lilac-pink flowers on 3ft / 90cm tall stems. Flower June to October.
Large leaves to 25cm high. Pink bottle brush flowers on spikes 60-70cm high. Flowers in flushes between May and September if dead headed.
Perfect Partners: Persicaria bistorta Superba in our garden with Geranium phaeum Lily Lovell. 18 May 2009.
Exotic looking but perfectly hardy with us. The leaves keep their best colour and patterning in light shade. Up to 2ft tall but we keep it short by pinching out the tips regularly. The small clusters of pink-white flowers are unremarkable but don't spoil the show!