Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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Pruning guide · Perennial
Red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis): when and how to prune
Persicaria amplexicaulis
Red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis) is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | July–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis): when to prune it?
Red bistort needs hardly any pruning. After the first frost the leaves die; cut the dead stems back to just above the ground in March.
What else to prune in those months? March
Red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis): how to prune it?
- Leave the brown stems in winter as a silhouette and shelter for insects.
- In March, cut all dead stems back to just above the ground, before the new shoots appear.
- There is no need to remove faded spikes in summer.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis) flowers in July–October, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
Nearby: related pruning guides
- Common bistort (Persicaria bistorta)
- Himalayan knotweed (Persicaria affinis)
- Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana)
- Amphibious bistort
- Vietnamese coriander
Plant profile: Red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.