Smartweed Polygonum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Smartweed:
- Phonetic Spelling
- poh-lee-GON-um
- Description
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About 130 species of Knotweed or Smartweed are known, and most are plants of disturbed, moist areas. They vary greatly, can be annuals or perennials, and are mostly found in northern temperate areas of the world. Most are considered weedy. Native varieties tend to grow partially immersed in shallow waters of marshes, swamps, wet forests or ditches. The small flowers are generally in terminal spikes.
P. pensylvanicum and P. punctatum var. punctatum are native to North Carolina.
- 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:
- Polygonum
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Plants have been used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Cosmopolitan
- Wildlife Value:
- Food and habitat source for fish and wildlife.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- 3-sided capsule is tan to reddish-brown to black in color with 1 seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Small blooms from late summer to early fall that grow on terminal spikes. Varies as per species.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are lance-shaped, narrow and willow-like. The leaf bases form a sheath around the stem. Varies as per species.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
