Pruning red bistort
Advice for October in the Netherlands
This is the clump-forming border plant Bistorta amplexicaulis. It can flower for a long time; a low summer cut is unnecessary and removes flowers. Months are a guide for the Netherlands and Belgium; follow actual growth and flowering.
Red bistort — October
Check this first
Let bistort with green leaves or flowering spikes continue growing. After flowering, you can tidy dead stems or retain their healthy winter structure until spring.
Pay attention to this
- Check the name amplexicaulis; do not apply this to Japanese knotweed.
- Spare green leaves and buds beneath old stems.
- Leave flowering spikes until they have finished.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this Japanese knotweed?
- No. This page covers Bistorta amplexicaulis, also sold as Persicaria amplexicaulis. Have an unfamiliar knotweed identified first.
- Must I remove every faded spike?
- No. Deadheading is not a care requirement; you can remove unsightly old spikes without cutting back the rest of the plant.
- Can green winter leaves also be removed?
- Keep healthy green foliage intact. Clear only dead stems and leaves when new growth starts.