Interesting!

I'm in southern New England (CT) and have a number of Persicaria virginianas in my various garden beds. None of them have ever been bothered by late season cold snaps where I am. I'm guessing Persicaria affine and P. amplexicauling are less hardy than the type growing here. Sorry you lost yours.

Not a hardiness issue; it has to do with their tolerance of late frost/freeze. I doubt I lost them, but they certainly don't like freezes after they have leafed out. As I said, the Deutzias ('Nikko' and 'Chardonnay Pearls) were the same. Buds formed and even when I bothered to cover them, a hard freeze destroyed the buds and burned the foliage on the CP so badly that they looked bad most of the season.

Hello laceyvail, I am in a Canadian zone 5 and have had several such pesicaria for several years eg "dimity" and "golden arrows" and I dont think I see what you are experiencing BUT maybe the difference is that you given your 'warmer' zone your persicaria can develop quite far along and so the effects of an unexpected freeze temp is more noticeable?

Well, the new leaves were just up. That's all. But we had no winter this year--none--temps so warm that I had windows open at night sometimes. On the other hand, March was chilly, and as I said, the new leaves were just up.

Do you have freezes after several weeks of warm weather? That's what did it.

My experience is the same with both of the cultivars Rouge mentions.

We've also had the species Persicaria amplexicaulis for 20 years; that after bringing it here from another property. We have it planted in several locations, both more protected (by a cedar hedge) and quite exposed through winter.

Well, the new leaves were just up.

And you are still ahead of me.

Where do you purchase your plants from? I've never seen them offered at our local garden centers.

Where do you purchase your plants from? I've never seen them offered at our local garden centers.

I purchased a persicaria "painter's pallette" from Lazy S, and it will be arriving this spring. The colorful foliage was a draw, but I bought this particular variety because it is rated down to zone 3, so I'm not worried about its ability to tolerate our Vermont sub-zero temperatures. Most of the other varieties were only rated down to zone 5, so they would never survive here.

i grew 'Painter's Palette' years ago, but then lost it. P. amplexicaulis and affine are distinctly different plants.

Just love PP. (There cant be many perennials with more cool foliage)

But it has been my experience that it 'melts' with almost any form of afternoon sun. A great shade plant which does like moisture.

I'm glad to hear that it actually does like shade, Rouge, because the spot I have picked out for it is shaded all day long! Also it should like the moist soil in that brook-side location. It's always nice to hear from people who have actually grown a plant that you are considering based on nursery pictures and write-ups alone. Thank you.

Sounds like a perfect location spedigree.

I have PP growing in the shade and in the sun. One planting is growing on the south side of my home and in the sun from late morning til about 7 pm. The key is to keep it watered. It's in a bed with daylilies and clematis and all of the plants including Painters Palate look great! Wish I had a photo to share

Sherry

Thanks for the info. I'll check out Lazy S for the persicaria.