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[SHADEGARDENS] A weed is a weed.

January 19, l998

Dear Sombreros,

The genus Polygonaceae is full of so many weeds that in the last few years
many of them have been given different names. (Some say Oliver Stone is
working on a docudrama proving this is a conspiracy to sell more weeds to an
unwary public.). I have seen Tovara virginiana 'Painter's Pallete' sold as
Fallopia 'Aureovariegata', Fallopia aubertii and as Polygonum aubertii. It
is this latter one that is called commonly the Mile-a-minute-plant. Are they
all the same plant? I don't know. I moved my Fallopia 'Aureovariegata in
early spring last year to a new bed and it hardly grew all last year. The
leaves that finally emerged where all white. This year I expect it to do
what it did in past years and that is to grow rampant in any direction.

The one Polygonum that I do recommend for allmost full shade (mine gets late
afternoon sun) is Polygonum amplexicaule 'Firetail' (Zone 5-9). It bears
small fire-red flowers in summer-autumn and it needs no maintenance nor does
it have any pests. Mine grows through a large Rhododendron luteum (formerly
an Azalea but still yellow and extremely fragrant) and pussyfoots around a
large Hosta 'Blue Angel', Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans' and Casablanca lilies.
In very late summer it looks very good as there isn't much else to compete
with it. Because of my 7/8 zone I also grow many clumps of Meconopsis
grandis and Meconopsis betonicifolia in this mottled shade situation that
the Blue poppy likes. When the Meconopsis are in full bloom in June the
Polygonum is hardly around so all these plants seem to gow well together.
The secret for growing Meconopsis is to plant several clumps (of at least 3
plants each) around your garden. They will thrive in the right places.

Alex, Vancouver BC Zone 7/8 but sometimes 6.
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