Catalog Description
Upright stems hold large creamy-white and green leaves strikingly colored with brown marks, yellow patches, deep pinkish-red tints with red midribs and stalks. A splashy addition to the border or as a ground cover. Loose spikes of cup-shaped green flowers in late summer that later turn red. Herbaceous perennial. Full to partial sun. Spreading clumps to 16 to 48 inches tall, 24 to 56 inches wide. Cutting grown.
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Design Ideas
Fascinating foliage that can take part shade makes this an interesting addition to the garden. To keep it well-contained, be sure to plant it in a confined area, such as one bordered by concrete paths. Or use it in a mixed container planting.
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Companion Plants
Mix the variegated foliage of this perennial with an evergreen such as Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x `Green Mountain`) or Northern Beauty Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata `Northern Beauty`).
Highlightthe many colors within the leaves with the deep red blooms of Fanal Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii `Fanal`) or the foliage of Golden Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra `Aureola`).
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Average Landscape Size
Fast-growing to 1
½
to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 4
½
ft. wide. Can be invasive. |
Key Plant Benefits
Strikingly variegated leaves with markings of brown, yellow, and pinkish red tints. Leaf midribs and stems are red to add to the showy foliage. Cup-shaped green flowers turn red. Herbaceous perennial. |
Care Instructions
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. |
Growth Conditions
| Growth Rate |
 Fast Growing |
| Growth Habit |
| Erect |
| Heat Zones |
High:
| 8 (>90 to 120 days) |
| Low: | 4 (>14 to 30 days) |
| Cold Hardiness |
| High: | 9 (20 to 30 F) (see map) |
| Low: | 4 (-30 to -20 F) |
| Water Requirements |
| Water regularly, when top 3 in. of soil is dry. |
| Sun Exposure |
| Full to partial sun |
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Flowering
Flower or Bloom description:
Small cup-shaped flowers, green at first
| Flower Color |
| Red |
| Flowering Time/Season |
| Late summer and early fall. |
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Propagation
| Propagation Method |
1
| Cutting grown |
| Best time to Prune |
| No Value |
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Attributes
Border Plant
Dramatic Foliage Color
Extremely Hardy
Fall Flowering
Fruit-Bearing
Groundcover
Naturalizes Well
Summer Flowering |
Foliage
Red and yellow variegation
| Foliage Shape | Ovate |
| Normal foliage color | Green |
| Underside foliage | Green |
| Juvenile foliage | Green |
| Mature foliage | Green |
| New foliage | Green |
| Spring foliage | Green |
| Summer foliage | Green |
| Fall foliage | Green |
| Winter foliage | No Value |
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Plant Lore
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Plant History
This plant is a wonder of confusion in the references due to two genera that no longer exist and a species that isn’t found in the Hortus Third genus it’s supposed to. Beginning with the simple material, suffice to say that it does belong in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Its only true listed genus is Polygonum, the fleece flowers which are indicated in this plant’s common name. It is generally known as Persicaria filiformis ‘Painter‘s Palette, Tovara virginiana ‘Painters Palette’ and under Polygonum virginatum ‘Painter’s Palette’ despite the fact that neither Bailey’s or Hortus Third recognize any of the above. |
New Plant
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