Persicaria orientalis 'Cerise Pearls'
kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate / prince's feather
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: any moist soil
- Rate of growth: fast
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Thriving as a fairly vigorous yet non-invasive plant, 'Cerise Pearls' naturally forms a captivating mound and produces densely clustered sugar-pink flowers atop graceful, arching stems in late summer to early autumn. This hardy annual, once a Victorian favourite, stands tall as both an eye-catching groundcover for moist or boggy soil, especially near water, and a striking container plant, often self-seeding with little effort.
Keep well watered, unless the soil is naturally moist or water retentive. No pruning required. Cut back in autumn. Lift and divide congested clumps in spring.
In early spring, surface sow the seeds onto well-drained, moist seed compost, and lightly cover. Maintaining an ideal temperature between 18-22°C, germination typically occurs within three to eight weeks. If germination doesn't happen, consider cold stratification by placing them in a 4°C environment for four weeks, then return them to warmth. Once seedlings are sizable enough, transplant them and grow on. Prior to planting outdoors, ensure the risk of frost has passed and space the plants approximately 50cm apart. For direct sowing in autumn, sow the seeds into prepared soil, and lightly cover them.