- Perennial green leaf
- Food forest
- Bees and butterflies
- Edimentals
- Medicinal
Bistort
Bistorta officinalis
A graceful edimental with edible leaves and attractive soft flower spikes in the spring.
PLANT TYPE Herb
PLANT HABIT Perennial
USES Culinary, Medicinal, Pollinators, Ornamental
DESCRIPTION
A graceful ornamental in the form of a dock or sorrel with attractive leaves and soft flower spikes in the spring. The leaves are edible as a cooking green, younger leaves usually being preferable. Bistort’s roots have been used for medicinal purposes. Has a bewildering number of common names, which appears to indicate how valuable a plant it is for it’s various uses: Adderwort, Dragonwort, Easter giant, Easter ledger, Easter ledges, Easter magiant, Easter man-giant, Gentle dock, Great bistort, Osterick, Oysterloit, Passion dock, Patient dock, Pink pokers, Pudding grass, Pudding dock, Red legs, Snakeweed, Twice-writhen, Water ledges. The Latin name bistorta refers to the twisted appearance of the root.
RECOMMENDED LOCATION Forest garden, Wildlife garden, Ornamental garden
Aspect Moist shade, Moist partial shade
Height 80cm
Spread 90cm
Hardiness Very hardy
Prefered soil pH Wide range of soils
Origin/history
Native of Europe and North western Asia
