Persicaria amplexicaulis White Eastfield - Mountain Fleece

The White Eastfield Stem-Clasping Persicaria amplexicaulis is a recent variety of knotweed, notable for the abundance and lightness of its constantly renewed white flower spikes until October. Its vegetation, composed of dark stems and narrow leaves of a fairly deep green, forms an airy ground cover that integrates well into a naturalistic garden, reminiscent of tall grasses. It is also a very hardy perennial that adapts to any good garden soil that retains moisture. Its white and graceful spikes are also very beautiful in bouquets.

The White Eastfield Persicaria or Polygonum amplexicaule is a plant in the Polygonaceae family. It is a recent horticultural selection, attributed to Chris Ghyselen, a Belgian landscaper passionate about persicaria. It is derived from a botanical species native to the Himalayas. This rhizomatous and semi-evergreen perennial plant forms a flowering clump of 90cm (35in) in height. It spreads rather slowly, depending on the richness of the soil, and can form imposing clumps after several years. Particularly floriferous, even more so than the 'Alba' form, this 'White Eastfield' knotweed produces numerous very slender spikes, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) long, composed of a multitude of small ivory-white flowers in buds, becoming pure white when they open, with a throat filled with slightly prominent stamens, at the axil of the leaves located at the end of brown stems. The flowering is continuous from July to October, if the soil does not dry out too much. The leaves, borne by sturdy stems, are narrow and lanceolate, measuring 17 cm (7in) long, clasping, dark green, villous on the underside, and turn purplish in autumn.

Very trendy, this lightweight knotweed fits well in contemporary gardens as well as in more wild settings and forms beautiful autumn scenes with grasses like Miscanthus and Panicum. Thanks to its mat-forming habit, it can be used as a ground cover, making sure to leave enough space for it. This knotweed enjoys both sun and partial shade. It likes rich and heavy, even very moist soils and can be cultivated independently on sunny pond banks, along a sunken path, or in a cool and partially shaded understory at the base of trees. Asters, Japanese anemones, and inulas are good companions for persicaria, both in the garden and in bouquets, as they also flower until autumn.