Persicaria runcinata Needhams Form - Knotweed

The Persicaria runcinata Needham's Form is a beautiful perennial that forms globular, bright pink flowers which bloom from July and continue until the first frosts.

This small perennial knotweed forms a lightly spreading mat without becoming invasive. A single plant forms a mat of about 1m² in 5 to 6 years, composed of prostrate stems, as thin as wire, bearing small, unique leaves in the genus, light green, 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1in) long, lobed to the central vein into 5 to 7 rounded lobes, somewhat similar to oak leaves. The foliage is almost evergreen when the winter is not too severe. The flowers of the Persicaria Needham's Form are tiny, bright pink, gathered in small spherical heads 1 cm (0in) wide, at the end of upright stems and continue over a very long period.

Very cold-resistant, Persicaria runcinata 'Needham's Form' grows in all exposures, as long as the soil is moist and rich. It is worth noting that it tolerates heavy and wet soils very well. The name of this plant (Persicaria runcinata 'Needham's Form') introduced by John Carter in the 1990s does not seem correct to us, nor does the name P. runciformis described in the book Perennials by Martyn Rix, it would appear that this Himalayan plant is a natural hybrid between Persicaria sinuata and Persicaria runcinata.