Bistort / Adderwort (Persicaria bistorta syn. Bistorta officinalis) - Wildlife-Friendly Native (Peat-Free, Pesticide-Free)

Soft rose-pink bottlebrush flowers rise above fresh green, spoon-shaped leaves, bringing a long, gentle show from late spring into early summer. Persicaria bistorta (Bistort/Adderwort) is a UK-native of moist soils and damp meadow edges, making it perfect for the pond collar and bog garden (not a submerged plant). Clump-forming rhizomes knit the ground without thuggery, providing low wildlife cover and a natural look that sits beautifully with other natives. Expect roughly 45-90 cm in height and a 30-60 cm spread once established; very forgiving and easy to maintain.

Where it thrives

• Light: Full sun to light/partial shade (best flowering with good light)

• Moisture/Zone: Pond collar / bog in consistently moist to wet soil; keep the crown just above water level (do not submerge)

• Setting: Damp borders, gravelly pond rims and meadow-style plantings; great mid-layer behind very low edgers

Planting & care

• Plant in peat-free bog/pond-edge compost or rich, moisture-retentive soil; mulch to hold moisture

• Deadhead or lightly shear after the first flush to tidy and often prompt a lighter repeat

• Divide every 3-4 years in spring to refresh clumps and spread plants along the edge

• Keep soil evenly moist in summer dry spells to maintain foliage quality and flowering

Safety (important & honest):
Sold for ornamental use. Do not ingest. Wash hands after gardening. Keep plant material and soil out of natural watercourses; never release garden plants into the wild.

Truth-first wildlife note:
The open, single florets on the bottlebrush spikes are easily used by bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects. Combine with Marsh Marigold (spring) and Water Mint (late) to carry forage across the season.

Joel says…
“Bistort is meadow-by-the-pond: soft pink spires, tidy clumps, and it loves a damp collar. Keep it moist, trim after the first show, and let it stitch the bank with proper wildlife charm.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are ordering perennials between the months of October and March, including aquatic plants, please be aware that this is the dormant phase for perennials, so your plants may arrive showing potentially little or no top growth at this stage, or can in some cases still have some old leaves from last year showing also. Please don't worry, as this is all quite normal. Once the weather warms up in spring, you will start to see fresh growth and activity! If you ever have any concerns at all, please just message the team on enquiries@wildyourgarden.com and we'll always do our best to help.