@GardenerSuze I had to google what Red Dragon looks like and I've just realised that this mystery plant I saw growing in a pot at Standen House in Sussex a couple of years ago might be a persicaria too. Have looked for something similar in garden centres but never come across it. I presumed it was a rare or tropical plant because it looked so unusual! This photo is terrible but it looked fabulous in real life!
That looks more like 'Purple Fantasy' than 'Red Dragon'. I have had both but only 'Red Dragon' is still with me and seems indestructable
@HumbleBee I have grown the plant shown in your photo but unable to think of it's name. Perfect in a pot but it runs like mad in the ground. I think your photo was taken late spring? Leaf colour fades as season progresses. Could be P Virginiana but a complete 'blank' for me. I thought it had died one winter the middle disappeared up it popped further away. The following winter went completely. I bought mine from a nursery in Rutland and no I have never seen it in a GC. @nutcutlet I think you are right with Purple Fantasy just cannot remember.
P filiformis? this is lovely too.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Thank you @Nutcutlet yes it does look like Purple Fantasy and @GardenerSuze the photo was from late September so the colour may have faded to more green at that point. Very interesting plants - I'm going to have a look for them online - I think I'm going to experiment with several varieties this year!
@HumbleBee I have checked on line and come up with P runcinata Purple Fantasy for the pot. I can normally remember names of plants I have grown but this has eluded me! @nutcutlet Thank you
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
The border is cool, moist clay - not prone to drying out (unless we get extreme heat like last summer!) so fingers crossed my persicaria will be happy there!
Yes, it should be absolutely happy there--perhaps even a bit too happy, but you can cross that bridge when you come to it. It is a bit of a pain to take out because of the tough rhizomes it forms. But it flowers for many weeks. Try it with a hardy fuchsia like 'Mrs Popple', or a single form of Anemone x hybrida.
Thanks @Cambridgerose12 I hope so - I don't actually mind it spreading a bit. As it happens there is an anemone x hybrida further up the same border so it will be interesting to see how they look together!
I think the real star is P polymorpha you need a very big garden. Grows in a large NGS garden nearby full of flowers but this is the plant you first notice. Flowers for a long time in this garden, in full sun, a real thug!
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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In the sticks near Peterborough
@nutcutlet I think you are right with Purple Fantasy just cannot remember.
P filiformis? this is lovely too.
@nutcutlet Thank you