Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' (Red bistort 'Firetail')
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.2m
Max height
Max height
1m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail'
Other names
Red bistort 'Firetail', Polygonum amplexicaule 'Fire Tail', Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Fire Tail', Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Speciosa'
Genus
Persicaria Persicaria
Variety or Cultivar
'Firetail' _ 'Firetail' is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with large, ovate, veined, dark green leaves and dense, long-stalked spikes of small, red flowers in summer and early autumn.
Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Bright-red in Summer; Bright-red in Autumn
Foliage
Green in Summer; Green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation methods
Division
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' (Red bistort 'Firetail') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Prairie planting, Rock
Cultivation
Plant in any moist soil in sun or partial shade.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail'
Other names
Red bistort 'Firetail', Polygonum amplexicaule 'Fire Tail', Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Fire Tail', Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Speciosa'
Genus
Persicaria Persicaria
Variety or Cultivar
'Firetail' _ 'Firetail' is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with large, ovate, veined, dark green leaves and dense, long-stalked spikes of small, red flowers in summer and early autumn.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Bright-red in Summer; Bright-red in Autumn
Foliage
Green in Summer; Green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation methods
Division
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' (Red bistort 'Firetail') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Prairie planting, Rock
Cultivation
Plant in any moist soil in sun or partial shade.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
The The St Mungo's Putting Down Roots Garden is an ‘urban pocket park’, highlighting how people and plants can be brought together a city environment, and the ways in which green spaces… read more
By West Yorkshire based garden designer Tracy Foster MSGD. This small, awkwardly shaped suburban garden overlooked by surrounding houses was redesigned following the construction of a new extension… read more
The garden is designed by Cherry Carmen Garden Design, and the main contractor on the garden is Kebur Landscape Division. read more
By garden designer Matt Nichol. The owners of this garden in Woodford, Cheshire, wanted to create a garden retreat as a destination point. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
I beg to differ on 'well drained' - mine thrive in moisture retentive
There are 0 active discussions about Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' (Red bistort 'Firetail')
View all discussions