Does anybody recognize this plant? I think it could be a gorgeous groundcover but I'd like to know what it is to make sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Looks like Malabar Spinach. I cant remember the botanical name but I had one this year given to me by Brian Minter. Does gret in sun, likes wel drained soil. Very edible, tart, crunchy and a bit of zip when raw, haven't tried it cooked, maybe next year. takes support well to about 5 feet or so by my experience.
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Paul Buikema, CHT, I.S.A. Certified Arborist. Certified Tree Risk Assessor Progress Landscaping
UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 878
I'm not so sure about Malabar spinach. See this link for an image to compare. It looks more like a Persicaria (Polygonum) species to me; however, some scale would be helpful for an identification. For example, what is the shape and size of the leaves and the height of the flower stalk?
I am leaning toward Persicaria capitata (Polygonum capitatum). See this link to a Japanese website to compare. This is an herbaceous perennial species (USDA Zone 8) that seeds itself attractively into the cracks on my patio.
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Douglas Justice
Associate Director
Curator of Collections
Fair enough Douglas. Maybe a clarifying factor would be the undessicated leaf thickness, Malabar is quite thick and waxy. I can't quite make out the leaf arrangement on the sample pic however on the link for Malabar it is obviously alternate arrangement, perhaps the original poster can help out with more facts?
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Paul Buikema, CHT, I.S.A. Certified Arborist. Certified Tree Risk Assessor Progress Landscaping
Fair enough Douglas. Maybe a clarifying factor would be the undessicated leaf thickness, Malabar is quite thick and waxy. I can't quite make out the leaf arrangement on the sample pic however on the link for Malabar it is obviously alternate arrangement, perhaps the original poster can help out with more facts?
You are all totally awesome...The minute I saw the pic of Persicaria capitata (Polygonum capitatum) I knew you had nailed it - hands down.
