Persicaria bistorta 'Bistort’

(Syn. Polygonum bistorta)

[Ex. Co. Durham, England]

Polygonaceae: an attractive perennial of damp meadows, forming patches in suitable locations. The flowers are pink, in dense, 30-40cm terminal spikes from June-August. The leaves are oval or arrow shaped, the lower ones stalked, the upper ones are almost stalkless. Locally common in the north of country, but rare in the south. Native to Northern and central Europe, including Britain, mountains of Southern Europe, western and central Asia.

USES:

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. In Northern England the leaves are an ingredient of a bitter Lenten pudding, called Easter ledger pudding that is eaten at Lent.

Bistort is one of the most strongly astringent of all herbs and it is used to contract tissues and staunch blood flow. The root has powerfully astringent, demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative and strongly styptic properties. It is gathered in early spring when the leaves are just beginning to shoot, and then dried. It is much used, both internally and externally, in the treatment of internal and external bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil, but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade. Sow seeds in 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.

HARVESTED: 2017

APPROX. 20+ SEEDS