Pennsylvania Smartweed Persicaria pensylvanica
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Persicaria bicornis
- Persicaria longistyla
- Persicaria mississippiensis
- Persicaria pensylvanica var. dura
- Polygonum bicorne
- Polygonum pensylvanicum
- Phonetic Spelling
- per-sih-KAR-ee-ah pen-sill-VAN-ee-ka
- Description
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Pennsylvania smartweed is a wildflower that can be found in a wide variety of moist, open areas ranging from fields, ditches, roadsides, swamps, prairies, fence rows, edges of marshes, lakes, and ponds and abandoned parking lots. It grows at its best in dark, loamy, moist soils.
Several types of insects seek out this plant in search of nectar. This includes bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, and beetles. The seeds are eaten by birds such as the cardinal, goose, mallard, and sparrow. The seeds are not fully digestible, thereby spreading the partially digested seed in bird droppings. The seeds are black, shiny flattened, almost round.
It has both male and female organs, making it hermaphrodite. Its flowers are typically pink, but can also be found in bright pink and white.
It is a native of the lower 48 states, with the exception of a few northwestern states.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Persicaria
- Species:
- pensylvanica
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America, Cuba to Hispaniola
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Seeds are eaten by songbirds and waterfowl. Also used for nesting.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1" to 2" dense spike of small rose-pink flowers
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 4" to 6" shiny leaves, sheaths without fringes, reddish joints. Some plants have small, wicked barbs on slender stems, thickened at the nodes. Tiny hairs on the margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Upright, sticky, hairy stems. Around each node on the stem, a membranous sheath (ocreae) is formed. The puffed-up nodes appear red in color.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
