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Polygonaceae
Common Bistort
Bistorta officinalis
Persistence and tradition.
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Bistorta
- Native to
- Europe, Northern Asia
- Bloom season
- Late Spring, Summer
- Type
- perennial
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- moist, fertile, clay
- Water
- moderate to high
- Hardiness
- 3-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The name bistort means 'twice twisted,' referring to the S-shaped rhizome that looks like a contorted snake.
- In northern England, bistort leaves are the main ingredient in 'Easter ledger pudding,' a traditional spring dish.
- The dense pink flower spikes resemble bottlebrushes and are extremely attractive to bees and butterflies.
- Bistort rhizomes are rich in tannins and were historically used to tan leather and as a styptic to stop bleeding.
- It thrives in damp meadows and alongside streams, often forming large colonies in mountain pastures across Europe.
Color meanings
0
persistence
1
resilience
2
nourishment