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Persicaria polymorpha

 
Persicaria polymorpha
giant fleeceflower; white dragon
Persicaria polymorpha

Synonym(s) Polygonum polymorphum
Common name giant fleeceflower; white dragon
Family polygonaceae
Life cycle perennial
Flowers white (May-June)
Size 6'
Light sun-part shade
Cultural notes prefers moist soil

Clumping upright perennial with white flower plumes. I received this one in a generous plant trade by mail. It bloomed a bit that same year, but has since come into its own in the garden, growing into a voluminous mound. A typical polygonum, foliagewise, but the only white-flowered one in our garden. Makes a statement from afar.
I like how this plant was described in an article about the garden of fellow Dutchman Henk Gerritsen, who describes the color progression of the flowers from white to brown, and comments on "the fascinating ruin into which it collapses in winter, providing a perfect shelter for a host of insects and birds".

giant fleeceflower; white dragon

It has grown to a huge shrub-like mound behind our big pond's filtration zone – I have to stand far back to take the whole thing in with my camera! The base of the plant, from which it returns every spring, is impressive as well: a woody structure at least 4 inches thick, just above soil level. I hope ours lasts a long time, because it's just the right plant for that space.

We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston.

One or more images of this plant are included in my stock photo catalog

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