Knotweed ‘Red Dragon’

Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’

Characteristics

Culture

Knotweed ‘Red Dragon’ is best grown in moist, moderately fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Soils should be kept evenly moist. ‘Red Dragon’ is a clump-forming sterile cultivar which lacks the spreading stoloniferous characteristics of species’ plants. The most remarkable quality of Red Dragon Persicaria is its burgundy red patterned leaves and red stems, a plant grown much more for its foliage than flowers. It will come back if nipped by a late frost and will suffer sunburn in afternoon sun.

Noteworthy Characteristics

‘Red Dragon’ Knotweed is a cultivar that typically grows to 30” tall and to 36” wide. In comparison to species’ plants, it is distinguished by having (a) red stems, (b) leaves which emerge purple-brown with a gray-brown to mint green chevron in spring, with the leaves turning silver-purple and finally green with maturity, and (c) a clump-forming rather than stoloniferous habit. ‘Red Dragon’ was discovered as a naturally occurring mutant seedling that appeared in a crop of Persicaria microcephela being grown for medicinal purposes in Nanjing, China. Genus name comes from the Latin persica meaning peach-like and sagittata meaning barbed or arrow-shaped in reference to the shape of the leaves.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Mass woodland or cottage gardens. Borders. Mixed containers.