Persicaria virginiana (Variegated Group) 'Painter's Palette' (v)

About this cultivar:

Persicaria virginiana (Variegated Group) 'Painter's Palette' (v) is a delightful and eye-catching perennial that brings a touch of artistic flair to any garden. Renowned for its vivacious variegated foliage, this plant features large, heart-shaped leaves adorned with a curiously captivating mix of cream, green, and burgundy. The foliage’s most striking aspect is the irregular, painterly splashes of burgundy that seem to dance across the leaves, giving the plant a whimsical, almost abstract quality. It’s a bit quirky and definitely stands out, offering a playful twist on traditional garden aesthetics. Reminds me of Jackson Pollock....

Like other bold foliage plants, it can be a bit of a wild card in more conventional garden settings, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a plant that doesn’t take itself too seriously, adding a bit of fun and colour to sunny and shadier spots in the garden.

In late summer, small, delicate spikes of pinkish flowers appear, though they are quite understated compared to the foliage and hardly worth a mention. 

‘Painter’s Palette’ is a fantastic choice for gardeners who love to experiment with colour and texture. Whether standing alone or paired with other contrasting plants, Persicaria ‘Painter’s Palette’ always manages to bring a splash of artistic expression to the garden.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Flowers: July, August, September, October
• Other features: Bees and Butterflies, Interesting Foliage or Fruit
• Hardiness: H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15°C), Fully hardy, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Habit: Clump forming
• Foliage: Semi evergreen
• Height: 45 - 75 cm (1.5 - 2.5 ft)
• Spread: 45 - 75cm (1.5 - 2.5 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Colour: Green, red, white, purple
• Goes well with: --

About this genus:

Persicaria is a genus of flowering plants in the knotweed family (Polygonaceae). Plants of the genus are known commonly as smartweeds, knotweed, fleece flower, or buckwheat. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, with species occurring nearly worldwide. The genus was recently segregated -so many of you old folk probably know it as Polygonum!

The genus Persicaria has many weedy species and somewhat of a bad reputation. However, as with any family, there are always some good members. We think we have found them!

Persicaria leaves are often multi-coloured and often marked with dark centers and silver chevrons. This versatile genus will most likely grow anywhere that isn't a pond or a dark room. Other than an occasional haircut Persicaria is a low maintenance plant, that seems to look at home anywhere you plant it.