This genus of buckwheats (not to be confused with the Our Gang character) has been shuffled back and forth between polygonum, fallopia, and persicaria. For the sake of continuity, we're standing pat until both sides quit squabbling and the UN forges a truce.
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A few polygonum species have a deservedly bad reputation for invasiveness. We have, however, selected several well-behaved, garden-worthy forms of polygonum. Our polygonum selections do not include the phyto-terrorist polygonum types that have been rampaging around the Northeast US as well as some people's gardens.
The genus polygonum includes low growing herbaceous perennials as well as woody shrubs. Both types of polygonum have attractive leaves (often variegated), and great little flowers. Polygonum prefers full sun and is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions. This is a great genus of garden plants, so don't discount them all because of a few thugs. When you're ready to buy polygonum for your perennial garden, check out our online listing of Polygonum cuspidatum for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
(aka: Persicaria capitata) We obtained our plant in 1995 from a keen local gardener, the late Rachel Dunham, and it has behaved superbly ever since. Polygonatum 'Pink Buttons' makes a deciduous groundcover with above-ground stems adorned with small green leaves, each highlighted with a reddish-brown chevron. In late September through October, the clumps are topped with hundreds of tiny pink buttons...very cute. Not only is it a great ornamental, but it is used medicinally to cure dysentery, diarrhea, kidney stones, bladder infections, mumps, eczema, and yes, to inhibit E. coli in rat urine...how have you lived without one? We do not recommend this for the warmer parts of coastal California, where it remains evergreen and seems to seed a bit too much. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This introduction from the old Gulf Stream Nursery in Accomack Co., Virginia, was selected both for flower color and clumping habit. This selection does not run and take over the countryside like the horrible weedy species plant that threatens the Northeast. The upright clumps, to 7' on bamboo-like stalks, burst forth with dazzling tassels from late August to late November, first white, then fiery red, then back to white. This is a fabulous perennial for fall color and is also great for drying, which prevents garden seedlings--gotta have it! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We love Polygonum 'Spectabile' but always wanted red flowers with the speckled foliage. Finally, the near-sterile Polygonum 'Spectabile' gave us a few seedlings, and one met our expectations. Polygonum 'Freckles' is a 2004 PDN introduction we have trialed since 1993. Polygonum 'Freckles' makes a clump of 6' tall, arching, bamboo-looking stems which are clothed with heavily white-speckled leaves (much brighter than Polygonum 'Spectabile'). When grown in full sun, the leaves take on a reddish cast. In September, the clumps are topped with terminal and axillary flower stalks of short red spikes...very attractive and no seedlings or running here in more than 10 years. Please don't let the intellectually-challenged eco-nazis and uninformed lawmakers convince you that because some clones of a species are bad, the entire species is bad...think Homo sapiens. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
.jpg "Epimedium wushanense (Wushan Fairy Wings)")
