Water Smartweed
Persicaria amphibia
Also listed as Chulusium amphibium, Persicaria fluitans
Also known as Water Knotweed, Amphibious Bistort
Climate Match for your location
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Water smartweed is an amphibious perennial that thrives in wet habitats and shallow water, producing small pink or red flower spikes in summer. It grows rapidly and can form dense colonies, making it useful for wetland restoration and water garden edges.
Why grow it
Water smartweed establishes more readily than many native wetland perennials in disturbed or newly created water margins, and its tolerance for both shallow water and moist upland soils makes it flexible for sites with fluctuating water levels. Its dense growth habit suppresses competing weeds more effectively than slower-establishing species, which can reduce management needs during establishment. The summer flowering provides a late nectar source in wetland plantings.
Watch out for
In areas with warm growing seasons, monitor stem density to avoid excessively thick mats that shade out other wetland plants you may want to establish nearby. The plant's vigor means it responds strongly to nutrient-rich conditions, which can lead to dominance in highly fertilized settings. Seasonal die-back in colder zones leaves bare patches in winter, so plan complementary plantings if winter cover is important to your site.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polygonaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eurasia and North America
Native to: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Water smartweed is an amphibious perennial that thrives in wet habitats and shallow water, producing small pink or red flower spikes in summer. It grows rapidly and can form dense colonies, making it useful for wetland restoration and water garden edges.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Water Smartweed grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Water smartweed establishes more readily than many native wetland perennials in disturbed or newly created water margins, and its tolerance for both shallow water and moist upland soils makes it flexible for sites with fluctuating water levels. Its dense growth habit suppresses competing weeds more effectively than slower-establishing species, which can reduce management needs during establishment. The summer flowering provides a late nectar source in wetland plantings.
Watch out for
In areas with warm growing seasons, monitor stem density to avoid excessively thick mats that shade out other wetland plants you may want to establish nearby. The plant's vigor means it responds strongly to nutrient-rich conditions, which can lead to dominance in highly fertilized settings. Seasonal die-back in colder zones leaves bare patches in winter, so plan complementary plantings if winter cover is important to your site.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polygonaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eurasia and North America
Native to: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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