Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Cultivation => Cultivation Problems => Topic started by: Stephen Vella on October 05, 2011, 11:49:14 AM

Title: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: Stephen Vella on October 05, 2011, 11:49:14 AM

I was amazed when I saw this Persicaria in the UK, especially the herbaceous borders.  For what I saw it didnt look to be weedy or over run the borders. It looked vigorous but is it weedy for some?

cheers
Stephen

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: Lori S. on October 05, 2011, 01:11:40 PM

I've never found it to be weedy, that is, either invasive or seeding around... actually, I have yet to find a seedling of it.

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: Stephen Vella on October 06, 2011, 04:54:16 AM

well thats good to know but you are in a very cold zone. I wonder how it would behave in a warmer zone like 8 or 9?..any one ?

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: Lori S. on October 06, 2011, 01:10:35 PM

Read your other post... Yorkshire appears to be zone 8.

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: Tim Ingram on October 06, 2011, 04:08:08 PM

It is no trouble with us and we are a good bit warmer than Yorkshire (though still ca. Zone 8). It is a really excellent strong perennial which does pretty well in our relatively dry summers and autumn. There is another smaller species of similar useful habit which suffers under the name P. dshawachischwilii (!) and was introduced some years ago by the Belgian Landscape Architect Denis Dujardin, who has grown many plants from Russian and other Eastern sources with the aim of finding good new species for garden use. The name shouldn't put gardeners off because it is an excellent plant.

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: annew on October 06, 2011, 11:03:29 PM

Quote from: Tim Ingram on October 06, 2011, 04:08:08 PM

There is another smaller species of similar useful habit which suffers under the name P. dshawachischwilii

Bless you!
I'll have to look out for that one, I can't resist unpronounceable names.

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: Stephen Vella on October 07, 2011, 12:38:37 PM

Well im surprised to hear that this Persicaria would have a very low weed rating, especially when it wont self seed.

Thanks you all for the info.

cheers

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: Afloden on October 12, 2011, 01:38:10 AM

 In 7 years of growing this in two different areas (Kansas Z5, Tennessee Z6-7) I have never seen a single seedling from this species. It is also non-rhizomatous which is a plus. It will persist from roots left in the ground and is a good means to propagate.

 The other species sounds good also and I would like to try it.

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 14, 2011, 08:40:31 PM

Anne the name shouldn't be too hard if one relates it to dishwashing, (which seems unkind to the plant). ;D

Title: Re: persicaria polymorpha weed rating
Post by: annew on October 14, 2011, 10:43:26 PM

 ;D