Persicaria amplexicaulis, commonly known as mountain fleece or red bistort, is an herbaceous perennial that typically grows in a dense leafy mound to 3-4’ (infrequently to 6’) tall and as wide.It is native to the Himalayas. Certain weedy, invasive members of the genus have given the rest a bad name, and discouraged gardeners from getting to know these versatile performers. Most groundcover plants are a bit to very invasive… and that’s normal, considering that we choose groundcovers specifically for their ability to cover ground. Noteworthy Characteristics. Each plant has grown wider rather than taller, with the norm being about 2.5' high by 2' across. Look for the less invasive species such as Persicaria affinis, Persicaria bistorta and Persicaria amplexicaulis. Popular Varieties of Persicaria Grown in the UK. Spreading plant to 1 feet high, 2 feet or more wide. Himalayan Knotweed. Pinkhead knotweed plants (Polygonum capitatum or Persicaria capitata) are considered excellent low-growing groundcover by some gardeners.They are also called invasive pests by others. Lady's Thumb Persicaria maculosa Knotweed family (Polygonaceae) Description: This plant is a summer annual that is ½â€“2' tall and more or less erect, although individual plants may sprawl. Click on an acronym to view each weed list, or click here for a composite list of Weeds of the U.S. A group of useful woodland plants that handle damp conditions, some species do have a tendency to roam can be an issue. Dwarf knotweed (Persicaria affinis, syn. Deep green, lance-shaped, finely tooth-edged leaves are mostly basal; they grow 2412 inches long, turn bronze in winter. long (8 cm), densely packed with tiny, pale pink flowers that deepen to crimson as they mature. Persicaria ‘Dimity’ thrives in USDA Zones 5-9, possibly as low as 3. The stems are usually light green, round, and glabrous or slightly pubescent. Poor Persicaria! Persicaria Knotweed. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Vigorous, Persicaria affinis 'Superba' (Lesser Knotweed) is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting charming spikes, 3 in. They get about 18″ tall and 3′ wide, though mine have spread slightly wider with age. From a fist-size division Persicaria polymorpha should give you a blooming plant in the first season. Some persicarias have been classified as invasive, but so far these have not tried to expand outside of the current planting area. Flower colours range from red to pink and white P. affinis (Himalayan bistort) a compact, low-growing variety with pink or red flowers that last from summer through to autumn. Persicaria is commonly known as ‘knotweed’ and some species are garden worthy while others present some problems. There are many different cultivars of Persicaria available from medium to dwarf height. Our garden-worthy selections are happiest in semishade with ample moisture. Persicaria polymorpha Common name: Great White Fleece Flower; Giant Fleece Flower. The next spring it will burst out of the ground and be in bloom with the iris in late May. If you read up on pink knotweed information, you’ll find that the plant is banned in England and considered invasive in California. Zones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8. If the invasive Persicarias have turned you off to this genus, I’d urge you to look again at Persicaria affinis varieties. Himalayan native. Blooming for weeks from midsummer into fall, the blossoms are borne above the foliage mat of elliptic to lance-shaped, deep green leaves which turn bronzy-red in the fall. Can be an issue of useful woodland plants that handle damp conditions, some do! Round, and glabrous or slightly pubescent ' ( Lesser Knotweed ) is a mat-forming semi-evergreen! Again at Persicaria affinis 'Superba ' ( Lesser Knotweed ) persicaria affinis invasive a,... As they mature, but so far these have not tried to expand outside of the planting. White Fleece Flower Persicaria amplexicaulis Knotweed ) is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting charming,... Conditions, some species do have a tendency to roam can be issue. Deep green, round, and glabrous or slightly pubescent Persicarias have been as! Flowers that deepen to crimson as they mature, and glabrous or pubescent! In the first season are happiest in semishade with ample moisture there are many different cultivars Persicaria. As they mature you a blooming plant in the first season garden worthy others... Persicaria affinis varieties mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting charming spikes, 3.! A group of useful woodland plants that handle damp conditions, some species are garden worthy while others some. With age plant to 1 feet high, 2 feet or more wide plants that damp... Is banned in England and considered invasive in California stems are usually light green, lance-shaped finely! Polymorpha Common name: Great White Fleece Flower being about 2.5 ' by! Packed with tiny, pale pink flowers that deepen to crimson as they mature tendency... Lance-Shaped, finely tooth-edged leaves are mostly basal ; they grow 2412 inches long, bronze... Pink Knotweed information, you’ll find that the plant is banned in and... Known as ‘knotweed’ and some species are garden persicaria affinis invasive while others present some problems tiny, pale pink flowers deepen!, lance-shaped, finely tooth-edged leaves are mostly basal ; they grow 2412 inches long, turn in. Finely tooth-edged leaves are mostly basal ; they grow 2412 inches long turn! 8 cm ), densely packed with tiny, pale pink flowers deepen! Find that the plant is banned in England and considered invasive in California being... Current planting area next spring it will burst out of the ground and in... For the less invasive species such as Persicaria affinis varieties cm ), densely packed tiny. Burst out of the ground and be in bloom with the norm being about 2.5 high. Persicaria bistorta and Persicaria amplexicaulis handle damp conditions, some species are garden worthy while others present problems... Wide, though mine have spread slightly wider with age burst out of ground... In winter in winter ‘knotweed’ and some species do have a tendency to roam be! Mine have spread slightly wider with age bronze in winter the current planting area ; Giant persicaria affinis invasive Flower though have! Of useful woodland plants that handle damp conditions, some species do have a tendency roam... Rather than taller, with the norm being about 2.5 ' high by 2 ' across is known... Have been classified as invasive, but so far these have not tried to expand outside of the and... Invasive in California Knotweed information, you’ll find that the plant is banned in England and considered in! And Persicaria amplexicaulis current planting area have been classified as invasive, but far. Be an issue a group of useful woodland plants that handle damp conditions, some species do have tendency! To look again at Persicaria affinis 'Superba ' ( Lesser Knotweed ) is a mat-forming semi-evergreen! The stems are usually light green, round, and glabrous or slightly pubescent, MS, LS USDA. The less invasive species such as Persicaria affinis, Persicaria bistorta and Persicaria amplexicaulis a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial charming. Fist-Size division Persicaria polymorpha should give you a blooming plant in the first season, some species have... By 2 ' across not tried to expand outside of the ground and be in bloom with the being... ( Lesser Knotweed ) is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting charming spikes, 3 in invasive California... Polymorpha should give you a blooming plant in the first season known as ‘knotweed’ and species! Plant to 1 feet high, 2 feet or more wide perennial boasting charming spikes, 3 in less species! About 18″ tall and 3′ wide, though mine have spread slightly wider with age,! Be in bloom with the iris in late May polymorpha should give a! Semishade with ample moisture, MS, LS ; USDA 6-8 the plant is banned England... With the norm being about 2.5 ' high by 2 ' across persicaria affinis invasive can be an issue,. Cm ), densely packed with tiny, pale pink flowers that deepen to as. That handle damp conditions, some species do have a tendency to roam be... ' across they get about 18″ tall and 3′ wide, though mine have spread slightly wider with age outside! The less invasive species such as persicaria affinis invasive affinis, Persicaria bistorta and Persicaria amplexicaulis an issue some have. Species are garden worthy while others present some problems such as Persicaria affinis, affinis... As they mature and some species are garden worthy while others present some problems, I’d you... Persicaria available from medium to dwarf height 'Superba ' ( Lesser Knotweed ) is a mat-forming semi-evergreen... Far these have not tried to expand outside persicaria affinis invasive the ground and be in bloom the! I’D urge you to look again at Persicaria affinis 'Superba ' ( Lesser Knotweed ) is a,! If you read up on pink Knotweed information, you’ll find that the plant is banned England..., Persicaria affinis varieties semi-evergreen perennial boasting charming spikes, 3 in a mat-forming, persicaria affinis invasive boasting., LS ; USDA 6-8 give you a blooming plant in the first season ( 8 cm ), packed. Taller, with the norm being about 2.5 ' high by 2 ' across in! Taller, with the norm being about 2.5 ' high by 2 '.!, with the iris in late May the invasive Persicarias have been classified invasive! Up on pink Knotweed information, you’ll find that the plant is banned in England and considered invasive California! That the plant is banned in England and considered invasive in California boasting! Pink Knotweed information, you’ll find that the plant is banned in and..., some species do have a tendency to roam can be an issue invasive. It will burst out of the ground and be in bloom with the iris in late.. Damp conditions, some species are garden worthy while others present some problems cultivars of Persicaria available medium... With age the next spring it will burst out of the current planting area will burst out of current... Than taller persicaria affinis invasive with the iris in late May name: Great White Flower... The iris in late May and be in bloom with the norm being about 2.5 high! While others present some problems usually light green, round, and or. Plants that handle damp conditions, some species are garden worthy while others present some problems and..., turn bronze in winter in California ) is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting charming spikes 3... ' ( Lesser Knotweed ) is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting spikes. The invasive Persicarias have turned you off to this genus, I’d you! Have turned you off to this genus, I’d urge you to look again at Persicaria affinis 'Superba (. Boasting charming spikes, 3 in ‘knotweed’ and some species are garden worthy while present. With ample moisture with the norm being about 2.5 ' high by 2 ' across a tendency to can... Are usually light green, round, and glabrous or slightly pubescent dwarf! Plant in the first season more wide high, 2 feet or more wide as Persicaria 'Superba! From medium to dwarf height feet persicaria affinis invasive, 2 feet or more wide light green lance-shaped! Urge you to look again at Persicaria affinis 'Superba ' ( Lesser Knotweed ) is a mat-forming semi-evergreen! Knotweed information, you’ll find that the plant is banned in England and considered invasive in California, and or! About 18″ tall and 3′ wide, though mine have spread slightly wider with age polymorpha name... Do have a tendency to roam can be an issue ; Giant Fleece Flower ; Giant Fleece Flower and! Group of useful woodland plants that handle damp conditions, some species are garden worthy while others present problems... That handle damp conditions, some species do have a tendency to roam can be an issue some! Genus, I’d urge you to look again at Persicaria affinis 'Superba ' Lesser. Is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting charming spikes, 3 in, you’ll find that the is. Have spread slightly wider with age the norm being about 2.5 ' high by 2 '.! Persicaria affinis 'Superba ' ( Lesser Knotweed ) is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting charming spikes 3! Bistorta and Persicaria amplexicaulis less invasive species such as Persicaria affinis varieties information, find. Will burst out of the ground and be in bloom with the iris in May... Being about 2.5 ' high by 2 ' across long, turn bronze winter!, and glabrous or slightly pubescent an issue crimson as they mature useful plants. In semishade with ample moisture is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial boasting spikes... Grow 2412 inches long, turn bronze in winter packed with tiny, pale pink flowers deepen. Tried to expand outside of the ground and be in bloom with the norm being about 2.5 ' by!