Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Aruncus/Astilbe - or something else?

FoxwillowFoxwillow Posts: 50
in Plants
Yesterday, I saw this plant at Parcevall Hall in North Yorkshire.  I thought it was an Astilbe but I can't identify a cultivar which is as tall as this (it's at least 6ft tall) - but it could be an Aruncus?  Apologies for the distant picture; I'd hoped to find a gardener to ask, so took a picture of the plant in situ rather than a close up of the flowers and leaves, but didn't manage to find one.

Can anyone identify this, or point me in the direction of another variety which is around 6ft tall with very close to brilliant white flowers and a cool green leaf?


«13

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'd take a guess at aruncus as the leaves are wrong for astilbe

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Aruncus has leaves like astilbe only much bigger. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Didn't think of that 😁

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'll try again - Persicaria polymorpha

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I think it's a Persicaria, possibly polymorpha


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FoxwillowFoxwillow Posts: 50
    I've never come across Persicaria Polymorpha but I think you may be right @Pete.8 and @nutcutlet .  I was having difficulty seeing anything with the same type of leaves. 

    I'm looking for something to go in a very shady spot; this was in a very sunny spot, but I know Astilbes can cope with that but this Persicaria probably can't by the looks of it which is a shame.  
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    edited June 2023
    It looks fantastic but I have my doubts... I have several Persicarias and in my damp soil they flourish. None seem unduly bothered by a degree of shade. However, they all run to some extent.
    P.Firetail or similar is ok, not too big or fast and relatively easy to remove (until it gets into a drystone wall!) The pink Poker one is larger and quickly forms knobbly rhizomes that are harder to dig out. P. campanulata is really pretty with good foliage and runs across the surface but it is a monster in disguise! I have spent several days removing it from a boggy hollow that it had completely taken over and have still more to do to clear all the roots. Don't turn your back on it or it will spread again in all directions.
    P. polymorpha data says 1 plant to the square metre which makes me suspicious!
  • FoxwillowFoxwillow Posts: 50
    I know what you mean. I love Persicaria, although I can’t get Bistorta Superba to spread well in the border of the garden where I’m planning for this to go - but in a sunny bed, it’s spreading everywhere. It’s a good job I love it. 

    The Polymorpha seems to be better behaved according to this article:

    https://www.hardy-plant.org.uk/hortlib?ref=potm-2015-07
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited June 2023
    A friend has Persicaria Polymorpha it is a large garden full of plants but when in flower it is the first plant you notice. It is in full sun and the soil is good, deep and free draining. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I was interested in this species so did some info searching a while ago and the gist was it is behaved for some but a real thug if it loves your conditions and very hard to eliminate, it's the Japanese knotweed family after all.
    I decided not to go for it in the end. Some might say it's a weed as well, it's called Joe pye weed after all, but one of the white eupatoriums might work for you. They are easier to remove and come in a couple of different cultivars that are various heights, that or plant a good old goats beard aruncus.  
Sign In or Register to comment.