I'm looking for a plant to trail over a sleeper retaining wall alongside my 'Glacier' ivy. I've read good things about persicaria but have seen very few pictures to back up whether this trails effectively. Has anyone here done it?
I grew the shorter persicaria affinis in the pointed end of a triangular bed which had railway sleepers to hold it all in and give me extra depth. It crept along very well and spread over the sleepers and down the sides, so much so that one year I slid a compost filled seeding tray under some to root it. Worked a treat and the bit I cut off soon grew back.
I gave some to friends of mine who planted it on the edge of their paved drive where it quickly settled in and softened the edges and crept across the slabs. Easy to trim back when it needs controlling.
The leaves are evergreen and can turn red in winter. The flowers start pink, mature to red and then go deep reddish brown thru winter. In late winter/early spring trim them off, brush it with a spring tined rake and then give it a feed of BF&B or pelleted chicken manure and it will do it all again.
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I gave some to friends of mine who planted it on the edge of their paved drive where it quickly settled in and softened the edges and crept across the slabs. Easy to trim back when it needs controlling.
The leaves are evergreen and can turn red in winter. The flowers start pink, mature to red and then go deep reddish brown thru winter. In late winter/early spring trim them off, brush it with a spring tined rake and then give it a feed of BF&B or pelleted chicken manure and it will do it all again.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/65281/Persicaria-affinis/Details
Persicaria vaccinifolia - Beth Chatto's Plants & Gardens