Persicaria orientalis aka Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate

Persicaria orientalis belongs to the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. It is an annual: it completes its growth within one year. Its common names are prince's feather and kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate. Its older name is Polygonum orientale. Its native range runs from India to the Russian Far East. It also grows wild in northern and eastern Australia. Beyond gardens, it grows by roads and on waste ground.

The plant grows fast, with upright growth and arching stems. RHS gives a garden height of 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres]. NC State reports taller plants that reach 7 feet [2.1 metres]. Together, their spread ranges cover 1.6–4 feet [0.5–1.2 metres]. The stems have joints and branch into thin flower stalks. The green leaves may be oval or shaped like hearts. Soft grey hairs coat their surfaces. The plant sheds its leaves, and its stems have no scent.

Small, deep pink flowers grow in long groups above the leaves. Some groups hang down and give the plant a loose outline. These blooms are about 0.25–0.33 feet [0.08–0.10 metres] long. They bloom from midsummer into autumn. The flowers have scent, and you can cut or dry them for display. Insects move pollen between flowers, and hummingbirds visit them too. The plant has both male and female flower parts. You can grow new plants from its seeds.

Choose full sun for the best show of flowers. The plant will also grow in part shade. It grows in chalk, clay, loam, and sandy soil. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit the plant. Keep the soil moist, but let excess water drain away. Shield the tall growth from strong winds. Do not use too much fertiliser. RHS gives it the UK hardiness rating H7. It needs little care and no pruning. RHS reports few pest or disease problems.

Use it in informal beds, cottage gardens, or beds for pollinators. It also suits flower borders and wildflower meadows. In mixed beds, its flowers rise above lower plants. Its seeds spread with ease, so it can escape planted areas. NC State reports that it is invasive in parts of the southeastern United States. You can eat the leaves and seeds. Young shoots and seeds also have uses in cooked food. The small seeds are awkward to prepare. Records note its use in folk medicine. These uses do not prove that it helps treat illness. The supplied evidence gives no toxicity rating for this species.