Fleece flower

It's not hard to figure out where fleece flower got its name. In summer, it produces large spikes of beautiful, fluffy flowers in pink, red, or white. The foliage is also attractive, with lance-shaped leaves that are often attractively variegated. Succulent stems with conspicuous knots at the node give this plant its other common name, knotweed.

And a weed it can sometimes be. Some types are invasive; seek out those that don't spread so rapidly. The plant does best in soil that does not dry out in sun or part shade, but keep an eye on them to curb any invasive tendencies.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

3-8

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

10-48 inches tall, depending on variety

Plant Width:

1-5 feet wide, depending on variety

Bloom Time:

Blooms early summer to mid-fall, depending on variety

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Fall Color,Attracts Butterflies,Tolerates Wet Soil

Top Varieties

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Painter's Palette fleece flower

(Persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette') is grown for it's dramatically variegated and marked leaves. They are splashed with cream and pale green, and strongly marked with a burgundy chevron. It can grow 4 feet tall. Zones 5-9
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Red Dragon fleece flower

(Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon') may reach 3 feet tall with leafy stems clothed with stunning oval deep red foliage strongly marked with a gray chevron. The spikes of white flowers are also pretty. Zones 5-9
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Garden Plans

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Island Bed 2
Shady Side Yard Garden Plan
Side Garden
Garden Plan for Partial Shade
Soft-Color Shade Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Iris

In wet areas, blue Japanese iris is a fine companion for light pink bistort fleece flower, blooming at the same time.

Loosestrife

Gooseneck loosestrife enjoys similar conditions as Red Dragon fleeceflower. The gooseneck spikes of white flowers play off well against Red Dragon's deep red foliage.

Helenium

The yellow and mahogany daisy flowers of helenium pick up the colors of 'Painter's Palette' foliage markings in late summer.

Propagation

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Seed
Division