Persicaria Polymorpha

White Fleeceflower

Persicaria polymorpha is a large, clump-forming herbaceous perennial with bold green foliage and tall, airy plumes of creamy-white flowers that resemble a giant astilbe or goat’s beard. It blooms through summer and creates a strong shrub-like presence in perennial borders, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, waterside plantings, and naturalized beds. Missouri Botanical Garden describes it as a shrubby, clump-forming perennial with creamy-white flower plumes blooming throughout summer on leafy stems typically 3–5 ft. tall, sometimes to 6 ft.

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 3–5 ft. wide × 3–6 ft. tall
USDA Zones: 4a–9b
Form: Large, upright, shrub-like clump
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil / Water: Average to moist, well-drained soil; moderate water; tolerates wetter soils better than many border perennials
Bloom Time / Length: Early to midsummer into late summer; often July–August, with plumes remaining attractive as they age
Wildlife: Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; generally deer and rabbit resistant

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for the back of perennial borders, large cottage gardens, pollinator plantings, screening, waterside edges, meadow-style plantings, and bold specimen use. It gives the scale of a small shrub but dies back to the ground each winter. Chicago Botanic Garden describes giant fleeceflower as a big, bold, hardy perennial that blooms in July and August.

Care:
Plant where it has room to develop, since mature clumps become large. Provide consistent moisture during establishment, then water during extended dry periods. Cut old stems to the ground in late fall or early spring. Divide only when needed, as mature clumps can be large and heavy. Unlike some knotweeds, Persicaria polymorpha is generally considered clump-forming rather than aggressively running.

Plant type

Perennial

Height

3-6'

Width

3-5'

Hardiness zones

3–9

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Early Fall, Late Summer

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained, Normal, Well Drained

Landscape use

Border, Container, Mass Planting, Specimen

Shape

Clump, Upright

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No