Persicaria bistorta Superba (Bistort)
Ideal for partially shaded gardens, award-winning Persicaria bistorta ‘Superba’ is a vigorous European Bistort cultivar that elegantly displays dense, bottlebrush-like spikes of tiny pink flowers, 4-6 in. long (10-12 cm) atop leafless stems rising well above the foliage in late spring to early summer.
Ideal for partially shaded gardens, award-winning Persicaria bistorta 'Superba' is a vigorous European Bistort cultivar that elegantly displays dense, bottlebrush-like spikes of tiny pink flowers, 4-6 in. long (10-12 cm) atop leafless stems rising well above the foliage in late spring to early summer. Semi-evergreen, this handsome perennial plant may also re-bloom into fall. A brilliant way of coloring shady areas!
- Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society, this plant is very versatile and can be used as a groundcover or as an edging specimen, mixed with other spring flowering bulbs, and other perennials in partially shaded beds, borders, in cottage gardens or along streams, ponds or bog gardens.
- Spreads slowly by rhizomes and easily grows in clumps, up to 24-36 in. tall (60-90 cm) and 18-24 in. across (45-60 cm). Foliage consists of large, 8 in. long (20 cm), lance-shaped, dark green leaves with a white midrib which turns an attractive red in fall.
- Full sun to part shade lover, it is best grown in average, moist to wet soils. While drought tolerant, this plant prefers moist, fertile soils that do not dry out (flowering might decrease in drier soils).
- Virtually pest-free and low maintenance, Bistort attracts birds and butterflies, but deer and rabbits will ignore it!
- Remove spent flower spikes to promote rebloom.
Requirements
Hardiness | 3 – 7 |
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Heat Zones | 1 – 8 |
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Persicaria – Fleeceflowers |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall |
Height | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 18″ – 24″ (45cm – 60cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy, Semi-Evergreen |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Rabbit |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Edging, Ground Covers, Ponds and Streams |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |