About the genus

Persicaria is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Plants of the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds.

In the garden

Tovara virginiana var. filiformis 'Painter's Palette' originates from North America and sits within the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. As a woodland-form perennial it is unusual among its mostly sun-loving relatives because it tolerates shade and dappled light. The plant produces alternate, relatively large oval leaves; some leaves may carry a chevron-shaped marking while the stipular ocrea bear fine bristle-fringed edges that commonly age brown. Flowering occurs in midsummer through to early autumn, on wiry stalks of small white to greenish-white flowers that are spaced along the stem. After flowering the seedpods have a characteristic ability to eject ripe seeds when disturbed, a trait that gardeners will notice while deadheading or moving through a border. Fruit-bearing flowers show two downward-pointing, hook-tipped styles. Place 'Painter's Palette' where shade or light dapple predominates — woodland borders, under light-canopied trees or shaded mixed borders are appropriate positions. Expect it to behave as a perennial that can spread from seed; remove seedheads if you need to limit naturalising. Plants can be cut back after flowering to tidy the border and reduce volunteer seedlings, while leaving a few seedheads will demonstrate the species' notable 'jumping' seed behaviour.

From the Fenn Plants journal

• Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
• Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
• Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.

More in the Tovara genus

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  Tovara virginianajumpseed
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  Tovara virginiana var. filiformisJumpseed
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  Tovara virginiana var. filiformis 'Variegata'Jumpseed