Persicaria chinense var. ovalifolium ‘Indian Summer’
6 seeds per packet.
An amazing introduction that has become one of our all time favourite, late flowering perennials and was collected by the late, great Michael Wickenden from the Mishmi Hills in India. It was originally introduced as Persicaria 'Indian Summer' (species ex. India) and after some searching we have found that its true identity is Persicaria chinense var. ovalifolium. We passed that information on to the RHS who are now using the name that we first identified it as ... but as usual someone else gets the credit!
Vivid pink/red flowers from summer into late autumn and large, rounded leaves that turn a dramatic purple if grown in full sun. Height 55 cm. Average to moist, well-drained soil in sun to part shade.
It rarely produces seeds with us (which are individually formed in a black berry) so packets are very limited!
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Sow upon receipt (best in autumn). Cover seed thinly, press in gently and keep top of compost from drying out. Keep pot outdoors or in cold frame over winter. Seeds germinate in spring.
Alternatively, if seeds can’t be sown in autumn use the following method: mix seeds with damp vermiculite and place inside a ziplock bag, keep bag somewhere warm for 3 weeks, then place in fridge (not freezer) for 8 weeks. Next spread mixture on top of a pot, thinly cover with compost or grit and keep warm at 15 to 20°C until germination, then move to somewhere cooler.
Carefully prick out seedlings when they have developed true leaves and are large enough to transplant to individual pots for growing on.