Mail Order Catalogue 2008

Persicaria

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF FAGOPYRUM,  FALLOPIA,  AND PERSICARIA
(Formerly Polygonum)

Persicaria are often characterised by very beautiful foliage as well as good flower colour. Some can be invasive and  we warn where this may create a problem. Some of the plants can only be propagated to order.
A full descriptive  list of the whole collection is available, cost £7-50.

PERSICARIA         
-   affinis.  This and it's cultivars make excellent ground cover forming robust mats that keep out everything else. They are particularly useful in the garden for their late September/October flowering period. White/pink flowers. 9 ins.       D
        -      -  'Darjeeling Red'.  The flower spikes open pink turning crimson as they age. 9 ins.  D
        -      -  'Donald Lowndes'.  Nearly double salmon pink flowers . Less hardy than the others.   9 ins    D
       -       -  ' Superba'.  (syn. 'Dimity') Almost double flowers open a blush white and age crimson. 9 ins D
       -   alata.  A creeping plant with very prettily marked leaves. Excellent for trailing and in hanging baskets. We have been amused to find this plant being sold as "Devon Ivy"  C
       -   alpina.  Small elongated leaves on a plant covered in frothy cream flowers in Summer. 3 ft.  E
       -   amphibia.  An aquatic, narrow green leaves slightly zoned with colouring. Erect stems hold the pink flower spikes above the water. Planting depth 1 ft. A very good indicator of water purity as it dislikes pollution!  1 ft above water.   E
      -   amplexicaulis.  A superb plant for open woodland conditions and herbaceous borders. Good foliage with large pointed leaves clothe stout stems carrying taper like red flower spikes in late Summer.  4 ft.  E
      -   -   'Alba'.  Not quite so large in stature as the foregoing but the white flowers are entrancing. 3 ft E
      -   -   'Atrosanguinea'.  This is quite a large plant with flowers of a deep purplish crimson.  4ft. E
      -   -   'Cottesbrooke Gold'.  A most interesting plant with golden leaves and so very useful for colour schemes and contrast. Presently rare.  3ft. H
-   -   'Firetail'.  A strong plant with more scarlet flower spikes. Very striking. 4 ft.  E
-   -   'Inverleith'.  A miniature really with nice heart shaped leaves and blunter "tapers" of dark purplish red. 2 ft.      E
-   -   'Pendula'.  Another smaller plant where the tapers are curiously and attractively bent over for about half their length. The flower colour is dark red. 2 ½ ft.   E
-   -   'Rosea'.  With flowers of a pure shell pink this makes a beautiful contrast when planted with other forms. 3 ft.  E
-   -   'Rowden Gem'.  Recently produced at our nursery this form is very distinct having deep rose pink flowers. 3 ft.  E
-   -   'Rowden Jewel'.  Perfectly hardy but not so vigorous as other varieties this beautiful form was produced in 1995 here. The "tapers" are a lilac pink colour. 3ft.   F
-   -   'Rowden  Rose Quartz'. Also produced in 1995 as well this plant is characterised by an almost bicolour flower composed of white and rose pink florets. 3 ft.   F
-   -   'Taurus'.  A very good variety with broad crimson flower spikes. 2 ½ ft.   E
-   bistorta.  Spreading and therefore this can make good ground cover. Pointed leaves surrounding blunt pink flower spikes. This is an attractive plant for damp semi shade. 1 ft     D         
-   -   'Superba'.  Much larger than the foregoing with broader leaves and taller flower spikes. An excellent plant and lovely in the bog garden or beside water.  2 ft.   D
-   -   carnea.  A non-spreading variety with thinner pointed leaves and a coral pink flower spike. 1 ½ ft.    E
-   campanulata.  A tremendous woodland plant. The early leaves form a thick mat of foliage which is a
pleasant dark green and wrinkled. From this tall stems carrying profuse panicles of pink flowers emerge as the season progresses. 4 ft.   E
-   -  ' Madame Jigard'.  In this form the leaves are enhanced greatly by a distinct bronze centre. Very good. 4 ft.   E
-   -  'Rosenrot'.  Here the foliage is the same as the type but the flowers are a very deep rose pink. 4 ft.   E
-   -  'Southcombe White'.  The pure white flowers of this form are a wonderful foil to the others.  4 ft.     E
-   capitata.  This is a small plant with wondrously patterned leaves and flower spikes like little pink balls in later Summer. Whilst it will normally spread by seed it is best treated as an annual in exposed and colder districts. 4 ins.   D
-   emodi.  The prostrate nature of this plant makes it ideal for the sheltered and shady parts of a rockery. Most attractive dark carmine flower spikes about three inches long complete a most satisfactory plant.
Not for exposed places.  6 ins.  E
-   divaricata.  A rare plant with strap shaped leaves and a froth of white flower in early Summer. 3 ft.   F
-   macrophylla.  The waved strap shaped leaves surround taller flower spikes carrying  quite large amethyst coloured flower heads. A brilliant subject for the bog garden.  2 ft.  E
-   microcephala.  The leaves of this densely spreading little thug are entrancingly marked with silver and bronze zoning. Best for the wild garden. The little white balls of flower are not very significant. 1 ½ ft.   C
-   -   'Red Dragon'.   A superb garden plant of recent introduction. It has none of the invasiveness of the type. The leaves are a miraculous dark maroon red enhanced by lichen green edges and a darker red chevron.
Plant the crown 3" deep. 2 ½ ft.  F
-   millettii.  Narrow strap shaped leaves and taller dark crimson flower heads. This will spread by it's own seed if pleased. It likes boggy conditions or ground that doesn't dry out. 1 ½ ft.  E
-   nakaii.  Growing as a low mound or bush this plant is covered in frothy white flowers in Summer. 2 ft.   E
-   odorata.  This is almost the only scented Persicaria. It's leaves give off a pungent smell and are used in Vietnamese cooking. It is tender and whilst thriving outdoors in damp half shade in the Summer, it should be given the protection of a frost free greenhouse in Winter.  3 ft.  E
-   paniculata frondosa.  Spreading and therefore best where there is plenty of room. Long pointed and attractive leaves are overtopped in Summer by panicles of frothy white blossom.  4 ft.  E
-   polymorpha. Of quite recent introduction this plant is deservedly popular. Absolutely non invasive it is a large plant that makes what the designers call a "bold statement". Large and pointed leaves clothe robust stems carrying very large heads of frothy white flower in the Summer.  7 ft.  G
-   runcinata.  Another very attractive little thug that spreads with enthusiasm. Extremely attractive leaves are intriguingly notched and coloured with bronzy red. These accord perfectly with  the profuse pink bobbles of the flower heads. 1 ½ ft       D 
- 'Needham's Form'.  This is a miniature form of the above, however the little leaves are plain green which somehow makes the pink flowers stand out very well.  6 ins.     D
- tenuicaulis. A most useful member of the group due to it's Spring flowering season. The leaves are somewhat hosta like and the little white panicles of flower cause much comment. 1 ft.    E
- vacciniifolia.  Providing plentiful Autumn flower colour the trailing and spreading habit of this plant give it many garden uses. It is ideal for clothing low walls around patios and rockeries, or for use as ground cover. Mats of tiny green leaves are covered in pale pink flower spikes.   10 ins.   D
-     virginiana.  (syn. Tovara) A variable plant throughout it's large range in the wild. Four inch leaves usually plain green, sometimes marked with a darker central "V" shaped chevron. Flowers are always insignificant varying in colour from carmine red to pink and white. It's various forms are the plants more usually grown in gardens.  2 ft.   D
-   -   'Compton's Form'.  Introduced from Schechuan by James Compton. This is a large and very beautiful plant. Olive green leaves up to eight inches long are decorated by a broad olive brown chevron. Very desirable. 3 ft.   G
-   -   'Lance Corporal'.  This cultivar was developed here from a chance seedling of the type.  It has a most striking black chevron on the leaf. This makes a most distinctive plant for a semi shaded position.  3 ft.   E
-   -   'Painter's Palette'.  A most enthusiastically variegated plant first discovered by Eric Smith. The green of the leaf almost disappears under much cream splashing and the central chevron is a bright reddish brown. It should be planted out of direct sunlight and brightens up darker corners like a beacon. 2 ½ ft.   E
-    -   'Variegata'. Another outstanding foliage plant. Rounder and broader leaves are most boldly splashed with cream. Highly decorative it is one of those plants that gives excellent colour throughout the season. Invaluable. 2 ½ ft.    E