Persicaria bistorta - Common Bistort, Native Bog Plant
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Persicaria bistorta - Common Bistort, Native Bog Plant
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Product specifications and features
Product Description
Persicaria bistorta - Common Bistort, Native Bog Plant
Persicaria bistorta (now listed as Bistorta officinalis), known as common bistort, is a UK native perennial with large, prominently veined leaves up to 30 cm long. From summer into early autumn it sends up short, dense spikes of small pale pink flowers.
Common bistort at a glance
| Botanical name | Bistorta officinalis (syn. Persicaria bistorta) |
|---|---|
| Common name | Common bistort |
| Plant type | Clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial |
| Height and spread | Up to about 75 cm tall, 50–100 cm wide |
| Flowers | Pale pink (sometimes white), in short, dense spikes, summer to early autumn |
| Position | Full sun or part shade |
| Soil | Any moist soil; tolerates drier soil. Any type or pH |
| Pond depth | None – moist soil, not under water |
| Hardiness | RHS H7 – very hardy (below -20°C) |
| Native to | UK (native wild flower) |
Is common bistort a pond plant?
No. It is a bog garden and moist border plant, not a water plant. Plant it in moist soil beside a pond or in a damp border, not in standing water. It also copes with drier soil.
Where to plant common bistort
- Bog gardens and damp ground near a pond
- Moist borders in sun or part shade
- As ground cover, where its leafy clumps can spread
How to plant and care for it
Plant in spring in any moist soil. It forms ground-covering clumps and is generally free of pests and diseases.
Which size should I buy?
Bare-root plants (7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive without a pot or compost and are the most economical way to plant a group. Potted plants (9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive growing in our peat-free compost and give a faster display. Packs of 3 come in 7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre bare-root sizes and cost less per plant. The 2x Pot & Compost option is two plants supplied with pots and compost.
