Polygonum weyrichii
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Frost limit
- −28.9 °C
Cultivation
Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually free and easy. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have reached sufficient size. If not, overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out the following spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Edible uses
Young shoots - cooked. Seed - dried and ground into a powder and used with cereals for making bread, porridge etc. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize.
Habitat
Alpine slopes and gravelly places near the sea.
Native range
E. Asia - Japan on Sakhalin Island.
Same genus
- Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)
- Meadow bistort (Polygonum bistorta)
- European knotweed (Polygonum arenarium)
- Narrowleaf knotweed (Polygonum bellardii)
- Alaska Wild Rhubarb (Polygonum alaskanum)
- Alaska wild rhubarb (Polygonum alpinum)
- Water knotweed (Polygonum amphibium)
- Ovalleaf knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum)