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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] Fallopia/Tovaria

ECPep wrote:
>
> In a message dated 98-01-17 17:35:04 EST, you write:
>
> << As far as taxonomy, I don't think that either one of these is a polygonum,
>  since they have both genus and species names of their own...though, of the
>  two, the tovaria most resembles the polygonum. However, neither Hortus Third
>  nor Jellito nor Armitage nor Clausen list either one....so I'm just flying
>  by the seat of my pants. My theory is that they both come out of the far
>  East....since the naming bodies tend to be European....perhaps they haven't
>  been 'noticed' yet. The Fallopia is quite beautiful! Incidentally, I will
>  second someone's mention of Alan Armitage's book as outstanding! I like his
>  style as well as his knowledge. Jean Bawden-Madison,  >>
>
> This is a mystery plant in the catalogs and in the books.  Another place to
> look is in the RHS dictionary of plants or the new American Horticultural
> Society Dictionary of Horticulture which weighs 20 lbs.
>
> Phillips and Rix in their two part "Perennials" call Fallopia japonica var.
> compacta a synonym for Polygonum cuspidatum var. compacta.
>
> More interesting is that flowers are both male and female.  The female form is
> compactum in cultivation.  Apparently the male form is the one that cannot be
> controlled.  AHS Dictionary mentions Tovara along with persicaria (sold as a
> new perennial in a few catalogs) as all being polygonum.  Ditto for
> Phillips/Rix.
>
> There is more information in the English references just now.  Phillips and
> Rix list this plant as native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.
>
> Has anyone grown the form labelled Tovara for a few years?
>
> Claire Peplowski
> East Nassau, NY
> zone 4

I purchased Tovara 'Painter's Palette' from Heronswood about 3 years
ago.  It resides next to a Clematis 'Henryii' and a ribes.  I don't do a
thing to it, or the area that it grows in.  The soil is good, if a bit
heavy, and remains moist year round.  It has not proven to be invasive.

The tovara we have at the nursery is not 'Painters P.', but is listed in
one of my references as Polygonum virg. and is more attractive, in my
opinion.  We sold a lot of it this season, and never had a single
customer know what it was.
--
The Greenhouse Nursery
81 S. Bagley Creek Road & Hwy 101
Port Angeles, WA  98362
(360) 417-2664
Zone 8
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