Persicaria bistorta - Common Bistort, Native Bog Plant

Persicaria bistorta (now listed as Bistorta officinalis), known as common bistort, is a UK native perennial with large, prominently veined leaves up to 30 cm long. From summer into early autumn it sends up short, dense spikes of small pale pink flowers.

Common bistort at a glance

Botanical name	Bistorta officinalis (syn. Persicaria bistorta)
Common name	Common bistort
Plant type	Clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial
Height and spread	Up to about 75 cm tall, 50–100 cm wide
Flowers	Pale pink (sometimes white), in short, dense spikes, summer to early autumn
Position	Full sun or part shade
Soil	Any moist soil; tolerates drier soil. Any type or pH
Pond depth	None – moist soil, not under water
Hardiness	RHS H7 – very hardy (below -20°C)
Native to	UK (native wild flower)

Is common bistort a pond plant?

No. It is a bog garden and moist border plant, not a water plant. Plant it in moist soil beside a pond or in a damp border, not in standing water. It also copes with drier soil.

Where to plant common bistort

Bog gardens and damp ground near a pond
Moist borders in sun or part shade
As ground cover, where its leafy clumps can spread

How to plant and care for it

Plant in spring in any moist soil. It forms ground-covering clumps and is generally free of pests and diseases.

Which size should I buy?

Bare-root plants (7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive without a pot or compost and are the most economical way to plant a group. Potted plants (9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive growing in our peat-free compost and give a faster display. Packs of 3 come in 7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre bare-root sizes and cost less per plant. The 2x Pot & Compost option is two plants supplied with pots and compost.