Polygonum persicaria
Spotted ladysthumb · Smartweed · Red Leg · Redshank · Persicaria
Description
Source: leafsnapPersicaria maculosa (syn. Polygonum persicaria) is an annual plant in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Common names include lady's thumb, spotted lady's thumb, Jesusplant, and redshank. It is widespread across Eurasia from Iceland south to Portugal and east to Japan. It is also present as an introduced and invasive species in North America, where it was first noted in the Great Lakes region in 1843 and has now spread through most of the continent.
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun
Redshank comes from bright, open habitats and performs best in full sun. It tolerates partial shade but prefers direct sunlight for optimal growth. This plant, which can be annual or biennial, is noted for its sun-loving habit.
🌡️ Temperature 5–35°C
Redshank can tolerate a wide range of temperature conditions, although its distribution can still be constrained by various combinations of moisture and heat. It grows best in warm summer climates with sufficient rainfall or irrigation. Extended periods of cloudy, rainy weather or prolonged high temperatures can raise the risk of Redshank dying. In winter, adequate protection from the cold can increase the plant's chances of survival.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
Redshank does well with regular, low-strength fertilizer applications to encourage healthy leaf development. Fertilize Redshank about once a month during the summer. Nitrogen is important for foliage, and providing nitrogen-rich sources helps Redshank thrive.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Annual, Perennial
- Genus
- Polygonum
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 4-10
- Mature Height
- 20 cm to 61 cm
- Mature Spread
- 30 cm to 49 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Leaf Type
- Semi-evergreen
- Flower Color
- Pink
- Flower Size
- 0.25 cm to 0.51 cm
- Bloom Time
- Summer, Fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Fall, Early winter
- Native Area
- Egypt, Turkey, Sweden, India, Austria, Slovakia, Montenegro, Pakistan, Slovenia, Morocco, Croatia, Yemen, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Russia, Iraq, Germany, Iceland, Estonia, Koppen, Romania, Latvia, South Korea, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, France, Tajikistan, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Poland, Laos, Greece, Ukraine, Serbia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Norway, China, Afghanistan, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Vietnam, Japan, Finland, Denmark, Iran, Albania, Ireland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan