Persicaria orientalis
Extensively cultivated and naturalized, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate also referred to as prince’s feather or princess feather is a horticultural favourite hailing from a broad swath of Eurasia.
Categorized within the Polygonaceae household, this elegant flower is cousin to the notoriously invasive knotweed and shares its pushy tendencies.
The simple to develop nature of Persicaria orientalis (syn. Polygonum orientale) makes it a favourite amongst gardeners, because the lofty stems and jewel coloured, pendant flowers are dependable, swish staples of late summer season.
We hyperlink to distributors that can assist you discover related merchandise. Should you purchase from one in every of our hyperlinks, we might earn a fee.
Tolerant of quite a lot of soils and web site circumstances, this species can turn out to be fairly aggressive in wealthy, moist places.
Learn on to seek out out extra about rising this cottage backyard favourite. Right here’s what I’ll cowl:
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate belongs to a plant household that features many infamous weeds.
This scrappy and tenacious group encompasses such ubiquitous backyard invaders as sorrel, dock, smartweed, and mile-a-minute – species which can be broadly reviled by gardeners and horticulturists alike.
P. orientalis shows the attribute swollen stem nodes and conspicuous, clear sheathing stipules – referred to as ochrea – on the base of every leaf that outline this plant household.
The species additionally produces giant, shiny inexperienced foliage, with oval leaves that develop as much as 10 inches lengthy and taper to pointed suggestions.
Fast Look
Widespread identify(s): Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, princess feather, prince’s feather, woman’s sorrel, oriental persicaria
Plant kind: Herbaceous flowering annual
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 2-11
Native to: Eurasia, together with China, India, Southeast Asia, and elements of Russia
Bloom time / season: Mid to late summer season and early fall
Publicity: Full solar to partial afternoon shade
Soil kind: Moist, organically-rich, nicely draining
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5, barely acidic to impartial
Time to maturity: 1 years
Mature dimension: 4 to 7 ft tall, 2 to three ft extensive
Greatest makes use of: Again of borders, cottage gardens, rain gardens, pollinator help
Taxonomy
Order: Caryophyllales
Household: Polygonaceae
Genus: Persicaria
Species: Orientalis
Towards the tip of summer season, lengthy pendant plumes of cream to pink to magenta flowers seem on towering stems as much as seven ft excessive. These swish racemes dip and sway within the wind.
This accommodating Eurasian annual prospers in USDA Zones 1 to 12. Whereas P. orientalis performs finest in constantly moist, nutrient-rich soils, it adapts nicely to varied substrates with common watering and occasional feeding.
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate provides vertical curiosity, vibrant shade, and a contact of novelty to the late summer season backyard with minimal effort.
Plant P. orientalis in the back of a border, the place its top and cascading flowers could make a press release.
Alongside a wall or fence, it brings a relaxed, naturalistic look because it leans and sprawls into accessible house.
Powerful and adaptable, this species may even tolerate the fluctuating moisture ranges of a rain backyard, making it a superb selection for filling gaps in areas the place different annuals might battle.
Find out how to Develop
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate will thrive in quite a lot of settings, however performs finest in full solar and organically-rich, moist soils.
For optimum flowering, present no less than six, however ideally eight hours of direct daylight each day. In shadier circumstances, crops might develop taller than common however produce fewer blooms.
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate adapts to quite a lot of soil sorts, together with clay and sand, with a pH of between 6.0 to 7.5.
You’ll be able to amend your soil with compost to boost fertility and drainage.
I wish to plant this tenacious flower someplace different crops battle to succeed.
The magenta panicles of P. orientalis look marvelous twinned with the darkish trumpets of lots of the late summer season salivas, for instance.
Common watering is important, particularly throughout dry durations, to keep up constant soil moisture.
Whereas the plant can tolerate quick durations of drought as soon as established, extended dryness might hinder development and flowering.
Mulching across the base may also help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
The place to Purchase
Whereas nursery begins may be tough to supply, some specialty growers or public backyard gross sales might carry them in spring.
It’s additionally price asking at unbiased backyard facilities, as some might be able to particular order unusual species.
P. orientalis is straightforward to begin from seed, and that is typically probably the most dependable strategy to acquire crops.
Kiss-Me-Over-the-Backyard-Gate Seeds
If you wish to begin from seeds, you’ll be able to decide up packets of 10 accessible from Seedville by way of Walmart.
There are a few named cultivars accessible, the primary being ‘Cerise Pearls’ which includes a extra compact development behavior than the species, topping out at 55 inches tall.
The deep pink to reddish-purple flowers have a velvety look and are sometimes extra vibrant than these of P. orientalis.
‘Shiro-gane Nishiki’ options mild pink flowers and is in any other case the identical because the species.
Upkeep
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate requires little consideration as soon as established.
In lower than supreme soil, a two-inch prime dressing of compost utilized in spring and once more in midsummer will help wholesome development.
Pruning isn’t mandatory to keep up vigor, however in smaller beds, some trimming could also be wanted to stop the plant from overwhelming close by specimens.
Quite than chopping it again, contemplate staking or tying stems to keep up construction with out eradicating growing flower buds.
Should you stay in a chilly local weather, on the finish of the yr, P. orientalis will senesce and die. Its lengthy stems may be left up for bugs to inhabit all through the winter or reduce down and composted.
In hotter areas, crops will sometimes die after finishing their life cycle following seed manufacturing, which normally happens inside a yr however might, on uncommon events, take two seasons.
Beneath supreme circumstances, P. orientalis will self-seed freely. To forestall undesirable unfold, deadhead spent flowers earlier than they set seed.
Propagation
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate may be grown from seed or by transplanting nursery begins – if you will discover them.
From Seed
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate seed is offered from specialty suppliers, however you’ll want to buy inventory that has been correctly chilly stratified.
This species requires a interval of chilling to germinate efficiently, and untreated seed is unlikely to sprout.
Sow seeds in spring in spite of everything hazard of frost has handed. Whereas you can begin seeds indoors, this fast-growing annual sometimes performs higher when sown open air. Indoor begins might turn out to be leggy with out optimum lighting.
To sow, put together a tray or flat with moist potting soil and scatter the onerous, black seeds throughout the floor. Press gently to make sure good soil contact, then flippantly cowl with a skinny layer of soil.
Place your flat exterior in a sheltered location the place it’ll obtain loads of shiny sunshine and safety from temperature extremes or excessive winds.
Hold the soil moist, however not soaking, as you look ahead to germination.
After your new crops have reached three to 4 inches tall, repot probably the most strong seedlings into particular person four-inch pots full of moistened potting soil.
When these crops attain six inches tall, transplant them into the backyard.
Transplanting
Select the sunniest web site and richest soil accessible when transplanting kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate.
Full solar and fertile, moisture-retentive soil will help probably the most vigorous development and plentiful flowering.
Dig a gap as deep as the basis ball and barely wider. In poor or sandy soils, backfill with compost to make sure ample diet and moisture retention.
Pack the amended soil firmly across the roots, then apply a two- to three-inch layer of compost as mulch. Water completely after planting.
In areas with little rainfall, irrigate as soon as every week through the first summer season.
Whereas P. orientalis is tolerant of dry spells as soon as established, constant moisture will promote sooner development and higher efficiency.
Pests and Illness
Straightforward-care species are sometimes marvelously free from pests and illnesses. Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate isn’t any exception.
Whereas younger, the crops could also be vulnerable to aphids however that is sometimes solely in overcrowded conditions. In damp circumstances, slugs and snails might nibble in your crops.
In humid climates or the place airflow is poor, powdery mildew might seem as white, powdery spots on the foliage. Guarantee correct spacing and keep away from overhead watering to scale back danger.
With ample air circulation, good soil drainage, and applicable watering, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate not often experiences vital issues.
Straightforward to Develop, Straightforward to Love
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is an annual that’s straightforward to fall in love with.
Its vigorous, fast development, uncommon pendant flowers, and charming, gangly form make it novel, dependable, and exquisite multi functional.
Have you ever ever grown kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate? We love to listen to your tales and experiences, and feedback and questions are all the time welcome!
To be taught extra about the best way to develop flowering annuals, take a look at these guides subsequent:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Product photograph by way of Walmart. Uncredited images: Shutterstock.
