Persicaria amplexicaulis, aka ‘mountain fleece’

Over the years, I have fallen out of love with certain plants. Never gonna happen with persicaria, as my obsession grows with every passing year.

Even though it is non-native, it is not invasive. Persicaria ‘Firetail’ ticks all the boxes for me:

  • it’s see-through

  • it’s trouble-free

  • it’s a pollinator magnet

  • it blooms for over 4 months in southern NH

  • it sports handsome foliage that ages well into fall months

Designing with persicaria:

Persicaria amplexicaulis with Joe Pye Weed and paper birch

Tall, red Persicaria ‘Firetail’ spikes are stunning when grown alone as a ‘hedge’ or mixed with taller, bold perennials like Joe Pye Weed, amsonia hubrichtii, and rudbeckia maxima as well as annuals like cosmos and verbena bonariensis. Persicaria plays well with these companion plants and is so robust and floriferous that it can be ‘pruned’ to help make space for its friends to create an incredible tapestry of color and form.

Definitely locate persicaria at the front of the border and on slopes to maximize the ‘see-through’ effects. Try planting under native birch trees to accentuate the red spikes against white bark. Or pair with white cosmos for a knockout color and form combination!

And for a spectacular groundcover, check out the persicaria affinis ‘Dimity’ in the photo gallery below!

For a screening, focal points, and a big impact, plant persicaria polymorpha, aka ‘Giant Fleece Flower’, seen in the gallery below.

Explore more persicaria cultivars here.

Bees feast on persicaria amplexicaulis in summer

common myth:

Persicaria amplexicaulis is vigorous, but not invasive. It is not related to the invasive Japanese knotweed.

  • Plant type: perennial, native to Himalayas, China, Pakistan

  • Growing Zone: 4-9

  • Growing Conditions: full to part sun; prefers consistent, average moisture, does well near the water’s edge

  • Size: 36” x 36” after a few years

  • Spread: Plants will grow more broad over time, but can be easily controlled

  • Bloom: late July to November (or first killing frost)

  • Foliage: persists into November

  • Maintenance: none, leave dried seed heads for fall and winter interest

  • Biodiversity: pollen and nectar source for bees, wasps and butterflies

  • Pairings: amsonia hubrichtii, Joe Pye Weed, rudbeckia maxima, cosmos, verbena bonariensis

  • Location: front of border to maximize ‘see-through’ effects

  • Sourcing: available through The Big Little Garden