Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Out of season
Persicaria
'Bloody Mary'
red bistort
Also known as red bistort, hardy perennial Persicaria 'Bloody Mary' produces airy tapers of bright red flowers, adding colour and informal style to beds and borders, and they provide bees and other pollinating insects with much-needed nectar. Pokers of bright red flowers open from dark-claret buds in mid-summer, and these keep coming until the first frosts of autumn.
Fancy some fuss-free, tough perennial plants, that flower for months on end? Well, you really should look at the Persicaria range (see 'Fat Domino', 'Flamingo Feathers', and 'Alba'). The red flower spikes of Persicaria 'Bloody Mary' are held above the heart-shaped green leaves. It is one of the best ground cover plants, and even the attractive foliage can take on fiery tints in the autumn. Oh, and the petals on the spikes of 'Bloody Mary' will not fade, even in full sun!
Like all forms of Persicaria amplexicaulis (syn. Bistorta amplexicaulis) this new plant will grow well in any soil type, but it will be at its absolute best in a fertile moisture-retentive soil. It is suited to full sun or semi- shade. Pair it with pale-pink Symphyotrichum, taller Helenium, or ornamental grasses, such as Miscanthus.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Bloody Mary'
- Flower colour
- Red
- Established height
- 1-1.2m
- Established spread
- 1-1.2m
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Upright
Clump-forming - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- Yes
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 10 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Damp
- Soil type
-
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Borders
Wildlife gardens
Low maintenance gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 2-3 years
Pollinator-friendly
Thrives in full sun
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Low maintenance
Attracts wildlife
-20%
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