Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'
Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'

Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'

"Red bistort"

Persicaria 'Bloody Mary'

1 bare root — £6.95

Spring planting season is currently closed 
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Delivery schedule

Orders placed until 29 February 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025

Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025

Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days

Available for (pre)ordering again in December
Free delivery on UK orders over £50
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Shipping to the UK

UK orders over £50
Free shipping

UK orders under £50
£4.99

Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99

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Description

Also known as red bistort, hardy perennial Persicaria 'Bloody Mary' produces airy tapers of bright red flowers, adding colour and informal style to beds and borders, and they provide bees and other pollinating insects with much-needed nectar. Pokers of bright red flowers open from dark-claret buds in mid-summer, and these keep coming until the first frosts of autumn.

Fancy some fuss-free, tough perennial plants, that flower for months on end? Well, you really should look at the Persicaria range (see 'Fat Domino', 'Flamingo Feathers', and 'Alba'). The red flower spikes of Persicaria 'Bloody Mary' are held above the heart-shaped green leaves. It is one of the best ground cover plants, and even the attractive foliage can take on fiery tints in the autumn. Oh, and the petals on the spikes of 'Bloody Mary' will not fade, even in full sun!

Like all forms of Persicaria amplexicaulis (syn. Bistorta amplexicaulis) this new plant will grow well in any soil type, but it will be at its absolute best in a fertile moisture-retentive soil. It is suited to full sun or semi- shade. Pair it with pale-pink Symphyotrichum, taller Helenium, or ornamental grasses, such as Miscanthus.

Key features

  • Comes back every year

  • Attractive to wildlife

  • Loved by pollinators

  • Thrives well in full sun

  • In peat-free compost

  • Low maintenance

  • Fully hardy

  • Rodent resistant

Specs & details

  • Botanical name

    Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Bloody Mary'

  • Flower colour

    Red

  • Plant size

    1

  • Established height

    1-1.2m

  • Established spread

    1-1.2m

  • Plant spacing

    10 plants per m2

  • Leaf colour

    Green

  • Habit

    Upright
    Clump-forming

  • Life cycle

    Perennial

  • Hardiness

    Fully hardy

  • Years to establish

    2-3 years

  • Sunlight

    Full sun
    Partial shade

  • Position

    Sheltered

  • Suitable for

    Borders
    Wildlife gardens
    Low maintenance gardens

  • Soil acidity

    Any

  • Soil moisture

    Damp

  • Soil type

    Loam
    Clay
    Loam-based compost

  • Growing skill

    Easy to grow

  • Scented

    No

  • Pollinator-friendly

    Yes

  • Mouse resistant

    Yes

  • Rabbit resistant

    Yes

  • Deer resistant

    Yes

  • Toxicity

    No report

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
  • Planting
  • Flowering

Useful information

    • Soak the Persicaria 'Bloody Mary' roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting

    • Plant your "Red bistort" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors

    • Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).

    • Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.

    Read all planting & care instructions

  • Orders placed until 29 February 2025
    You can expect your order in February/March 2025

    Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
    You can expect your order in March/April 2025

    Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
    You can expect your order within 10 business days

Perennials in 1 minute

The beauty of perennial plants doesn’t just lie in their long-lasting flowers and sturdy, resilient nature, but it’s their sheer determination to keep on coming back stronger every year —in year one they’re good, but in future years they’re even better!

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