Amazing Polygonum – Species and Features

The amazing world of Polygonum from the Polygonaceae family of the same name is rich and interesting. A peculiar intrigue begins with the variety of their names: Persicaria, Fallopia, Polygonum convolvulus, Reynoutria, Bistorta – all of them from the same family!

The encyclopedia of garden plants will help us solve all the puzzles today. Despite the fact that it contains priority names, the article primarily gives a more common and more well-known folk name of the species.

I have selected for you 3 perennial herbaceous species (with varieties) and 3 vines. Some of them are unpretentious, successfully growing on their own, while others require attention and careful care. Among the favorites are real healers-medicinal plants!

Floral perennial Polygonum

They are probably the most beautiful! Their abundant flowering is fascinating. Small dense spike-shaped inflorescences of various colors make them the dominant flower beds. Maximum decorative value is reached at the age of 2-5 years.

Persicaria bistorta, syn. Polygonum bistorta

Long-term, most of us have known since childhood, are still loved and in demand in the country. Today, it is on the list of planned acquisitions from a significant number of manufacturers.

Persicaria bistorta, syn. Polygonum bistorta — roller-like evergreen perennial up to 75 cm and 90 cm (2.5 – 3 ft) wide. it is native to Europe, North and West Asia. Its specific name is derived from the similarity of the twisted rhizome shape with reptiles. Pink prickly inflorescences 5-7 cm (2-2.8 inches) long bloom from the first days of June.

More attractive is its decorative shape: subsp. carnea, syn. Polygonum carneum — height 45-75 cm (1.5-2.2 ft), width of 45 cm (1.5 ft), the inflorescence is bright pink, and the cultivar ‘Superba’ — height up to 90 cm (3 ft), the inflorescence is light pink.

In the middle zone, it winters without shelter (it can withstand up to -40 °C – -40°F). It requires acidic, well-drained, moist soil: if there is a lack of moisture, the leaves fall off, but the resumption of watering is restored. Be sure to remove the faded inflorescences.

It is magnificent with ponds, beautiful in borders and mixed borders of natural style. Well, it stands in the vase of life.

Easily propagated by dividing the Bush in spring or autumn.

Persicaria affinis, syn. Polygonum affine

Chic Polygonum-chameleon from the Himalayas is great! On it at the same time you can see the inflorescences of different colors, which darken when flowering.

Persicaria affinis, syn. Polygonum affine-ground cover perennial up to 25 cm (0.8 ft) and a width of 60 cm (2 ft) white, pink, crimson inflorescences bloom throughout the summer.

Decorative varieties:

• ‘Darjeeling Red’ – 15 cm (6 inches) high, 50 cm (1.6 ft) wide, dark pink inflorescences;
• ‘Dimity’ – 10 cm (4 inches) high, 45 cm (1.5 ft) wide, dark green leaves turn brown in winter, stems wine red, inflorescences first white, then-pink-red, when flowering-rusty brown;

• ‘Donald Lowndes’ – up to 20 cm (8 inches), a width of about 30 cm (1 ft), inflorescences pink-red;
• ‘Superba’ – inflorescences first light pink, then turn red; leaves brown in winter.

The typical species tolerates a short-term drop in temperature to -28.9 °C (-20.2°F). In the middle zone for the winter, it is better to cover with humus and dry leaves. Quite drought-resistant, does not tolerate stagnant waterlogging. It grows on clay and loam soils with any acidity.

Good in rockeries, mixed borders and cutting.

Persicaria amplexicaulis, syn. Bistorta amplexicaulis, Polygonum amplexicaule

Luxurious large Himalayan.

Persicaria amplexicaulis, syn. Bistorta amplexicaulis, Polygonum amplexicaule – stable creeping semi-evergreen perennial 1.2 m (1.3 yards) high and wide. silver-green leaves up to 20 cm (8 inches) oval, slightly wrinkled, pointed. Prickly narrow inflorescences up to 10 cm (4 inches) long from bright red and purple to white; bloom from mid-summer to autumn.

Decorative varieties:

• ‘Arun Gem’ – height 30 cm (1 ft), width 90 cm (3 ft), short, dark pink spikelets (hanging tips-bronze);
• ‘Firetail’ – 1.2 m high (1.3 yards), bright red short dense inflorescences up to 10 cm (4 inches) long; dark green ovoid leaves with clear veins; blooms in summer and early autumn; creates thickets;

• ‘Inverleith’ -height and width 45 cm (1.5 ft), compact, short spikelets dark red.

A typical species makes -34,4 °C (-29.92°F), the sun, partial shade, clay, loam. Needs free space, which provide for landing. Pruning after flowering. Usually not sick.

Tapeworm. Propagated by seeds (spring) and division (spring or autumn).

Perennial vines

They are no less interesting than their herbaceous relatives. Lianas “gain weight”: the beauty of green-velvet leaves and delicate delicate whitish inflorescences, contrasting color would be clearly superfluous.

Fallopia baldschuanica, syn. Polygonum baldschuanicum, Convolvulus baldschuanica

He comes from Western China, Tibet, Tajikistan.

Oval leaves up to 8-9 cm (3.2 – 3.4 inches) long first red, then bright green. Small creamy white fragrant flowers, collected in thick abundant panicles, cover the vine from mid-summer to autumn, giving it an amazing resemblance to Clematis paniculata. Grows quickly: during the season, shoots elongated up to 30-90 cm (1-3 ft) hardiness: withstands -34,4 °C (-29.92°F). Ideal for a semi-shaded area. Better, more luxurious looks on well-drained loam with constant humidity; on poor soils less aggressive; withstands drought, trampling. Support is needed. Cut every year from late winter to early spring; rejuvenate at the end of winter, leaving a few centimeters, then shorten the long shoots as necessary.

Fallopia baldschuanica gives a dense living green cover for grilles, fences, walls; can be used as a groundcover plant, decorating not only the ground, but also old stumps; suitable for strengthening the soil on slopes. When settling a climber in the country, you must remember that you will have to control his growth. You can’t let him into living trees.

Polygonum multiflorum var. hypoleucum, syn. Reynoutria multiflorum var. hypoleucum, Fallopia multiflorum var. hypoleucum

It is native to Central and southern China. In China, old copies are “worth their weight in gold”: in China, it is believed that a 100-year-old Fo ti (root) preserves the youth of the face, a 200-year — old-gives a slender figure, and a 300 — year-old-immortality.

Polygonum multiflorum var. hypoleucum, syn. Reynoutria multiflorum var. hypoleucum, Fallopia multiflorum var. hypoleucum – an herbaceous Vine with a height of 2-4 m (2.2-4.4 yards). The beautiful, dark-green leaves 3-7 cm (1.2-2.8 inches), cuneate, with a wavy edge. The flowers are small, greenish-white, collected in short dense panicles up to 10-20 cm (4-8 inches) high, bloom in summer and until mid-autumn. In Chinese folk medicine, it is known as a tonic and anti-aging agent. The extract promotes hair growth. Toxic.

Polygonum auberttii, syn. Fallopia aubertii, Convolvulus aubertii

Another buckwheat vine, which due to the exuberant growth is called “winding Arcana”. He comes from China, Tibet.

Polygonum auberttii, syn. Fallopia aubertii, Convolvulus aubertii in the southern regions grows up to 12 m (13 yards). In the middle zone, it produces seedlings up to 5-7 m (5.5 – 7.7 yards). Throughout the summer, its lively light-green cover, since July, is decorated with creamy-white fragrant panicles 20 to 40 cm (8 – 16 inches) long. in flower, this mountaineer is a “bee field”, and small fruits in the form of nuts are a treat for birds.

Decorative shape:

• ‘Lemon Lace’ – rare; Golden-yellow leaves on red shoots, not so aggressive.

Polygonum aubertii is more thermophilic than the preceding species, so it is removed from the poles and covered like roses; tubs are introduced in winter into a non-freezing room. The critical winter minimum ranges from -15 °C (5°F). In the open ground, a Sunny or semi-shaded place is selected for it. During growth, watering is abundant; it responds well to fertilizing (until August), in a tub once a week. You need to support and trim long shoots that are knocked out of the desired contour.

Ideal for decorating walls, gates, wickets and gazebos. Polygon flowers are beautiful in a vase.

Propagated by cuttings from June to October.