Persicaria pensylvanica.
Pinkweed is an annual plant native to nearly every region of the United States where it can found growing in swamps and marshes, alongside shorelines and roadways, and even in ditches.
Plant grows to about 4 feet in height and produces long clusters of small pink flowers that bloom from June through October.
Attracts honeybees, bumblebees, and other pollinators, and is an important food source for waterfowl, game birds, and some song birds. Snapping turtles, Eastern Box turtles, and Painted turtles also feed on the bitter, peppery foliage.
Pinkweed
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones:
3 to 10
Light Requirement:
Partial sun
Soil Type:
Average, moist
Sow Depth:
Surface
Plant Spacing:
18 to 24 inches
Germination Note:
Cold stratification required
Stratification Time:
60 days
Bloom Time:
June through October
Growing Tips
Direct sow in late fall by gently scattering the seeds onto the soil's surface. For spring planting, mix seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 60 days (cold stratification) before direct sowing.
A Note on Cold Stratification
These seeds require cold, moist stratification. To naturally stratify the seeds, plant outdoors late fall on a weed-free site and allow seeds to overwinter.
To artificially stratify the seeds, place the seeds and a moist medium (such as a damp paper towel, coffee filter, sand, or vermiculite) in a labeled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator (33-40°F) for the amount of time noted on the growth chart before sowing.
