Persicaria virginiana ‘Painter’s Palette’

(Formerly Tovara) This is grown for its colourful foliage. Leaves are variegated with cream and green, with an unusual V-shaped chocolate-brown marking. Beautiful when massed as a groundcover, used as a specimen plant, or included in mixed containers. Airy deep-pink spikes of flowers appear in fall and are delightfully graceful. Plants are usually late to come up in the spring, so be patient. Seedlings often appear, but only a portion of these will hold true to the parent. In areas with mild climates this can grow to be fairly tall.