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Polygonaceae
Jumpseed Flower
Persicaria virginiana
Surprise dispersal and woodland spontaneity.
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Persicaria
- Native to
- eastern North America, eastern Asia
- Bloom season
- Late Summer, Fall
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 60–120 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade to full shade
- Soil
- moist, humus-rich
- Water
- medium to high
- Hardiness
- 4–8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The seeds literally jump — when ripe, they are launched up to 3 meters by a spring-loaded mechanism in the flower stalk.
- Brushing against the plant in autumn triggers a rain of seeds that can startle hikers on woodland trails.
- The cultivar 'Painter's Palette' has strikingly variegated leaves marked with cream, green, pink, and a central mahogany chevron.
- Jumpseed has a disjunct distribution, growing in both eastern North America and eastern Asia — a pattern shared by many ancient temperate species.
- Its wiry flower spikes are so slender and sparse that they are nearly invisible until you look closely.
Color meanings
White
unexpected encounter
Green
forest mystery
Pink
playful surprise