Persicaria vacciniifolia - Knotweed

The Creeping Knotweed or Persicaria vacciniifolia is a small creeping perennial that is quite attractive for planting at the base of trees or in fresh rockeries. Its lovely dense foliage is vibrant green and glossy. It thrives in partial shade and adds colour in autumn with its reddish-brown hues. Its numerous spikes proudly stand throughout the summer, displaying a beautiful pink colour and reddish stems. Hardy and easy to grow, it thrives in moist and rich soil.

Also known as Bilberry-leaved Knotweed, this Persicaria belongs to the Polygonaceae family. It gets its nickname from its numerous small elliptical leaves (1-2 cm (0-1in)) with acute tips. These leathery leaves, with their vibrant green colour, change hues in autumn, turning from red to brown. Very shiny on the upper surface, they capture every ray of sunlight. They are borne on beautiful reddish woody and highly branched stems. Creeping, they spread over an area that can reach up to 50 cm (20in) in diameter. From the beginning of summer, they are topped with spikes measuring 3 to 7 cm (1 to 3in) long, composed of multiple small flowers clustered together. Initially red in bud, they reveal a delicate pink when they bloom. The plant then reaches a height of about twenty centimetres.

Persicaria vacciniifolia prefers moist and rich substrates and thrives in partial shade. It can tolerate a sunny exposure if the soil does not dry out or if the nights remain humid.

Along the edge of a fresh flowerbed, in a woodland or at the base of a watered wall, this Creeping Knotweed offers a beautiful brightness with its glossy foliage and its flowering in vibrant and soft hues. Resistant, low-maintenance, and vigorous, it finds its place in mild to cool climates where it brings a long-lasting beautiful flowering and a natural style.