About this cultivar:

Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Dikke Floskes’ is an introduction from Chris Ghyselen in Belgium. Over the years, Chris has bred a number of top varieties, such as: Pink Elephant (pink); Red Baron (bright dark red); Taurus (fire red); Etna (dark red); Blackfield (black red); Orange Field (orange pink); Fat Domino; and White Eastfield (white). Dikke Floskes make a bushy plant with bright green foliage topped with masses of thick bushy deep red flower spikes. I believe Dikke Floskes translates from the Dutch as thick floss! Quite tall.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Flowers: July, August, September, October
• Other features: Bees and Butterflies
• Hardiness: Fully hardy, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Habit: Clump forming
• Foliage: Semi evergreen
• Height: 90 – 120 cm (3 – 4 ft)
• Spread: 75 – 105 cm (2.5 – 3.5 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Colour: Green, red
• Goes well with: —

About this genus:

Persicaria is a genus of flowering plants in the knotweed family (Polygonaceae). Plants of the genus are known commonly as smartweeds, knotweed, fleece flower, or buckwheat. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, with species occurring nearly worldwide. The genus was recently segregated -so many of you old folk probably know it as Polygonum!

The genus Persicaria has many weedy species and somewhat of a bad reputation. However, as with any family, there are always some good members. We think we have found them!

Persicaria leaves are often multi-coloured and often marked with dark centers and silver chevrons. This versatile genus will most likely grow anywhere that isn’t a pond or a dark room. Other than an occasional haircut Persicaria is a low maintenance plant, that seems to look at home anywhere you plant it.