How common is Common Bistort?

[PeterGreenMan]

Hi all.
Today whilst driving along a narrow lane, I came upon a mass of Common Bistort, not daffodils! They looked beautiful…. But I’ve never seen them before, not where I live, south Wales. So just how common are they?

[Jez]

Hi Peter

A good question and not one a have an answer too, it's not at all common around Bewdley or other parts of the Wyre Forest In fact I have only seen a small introduced clump in Kidderminster but it is an attractive plant that likes damp ground and can be found for sale in garden centers, I bought some for my garden and does do well but may need to be thinned out as it can spread quite happily if you let it, and it's also a good food plant for bees! But as to how common it is growing around the country I'm not sure though I know it grows well up in Northern England and is often introduced around farms and villages!

Jez

[pleb]

Hi Peter,

Common Bistort, [i]Persicaria bistorta[i] is not at all common around Plymouth. I have only seen it once growing at the side of a country lane, probably as a garden escape.

As this is my first message, let me introduce myself. My name is Phil otherwise known as Pleb and I have been studying the wildflowers of the Plymouth area for many years. I found WAB a few days ago and I am impressed with the knowledge of the group. I qualify for my free bus pass being over sixty but I am sure that you won't hold that against me!

Pleb

[metalfish]

according to my Francis Rose wildflower book Common bistort is only common in the North of England, it's rare or occasional elsewhere in meadows, roadsides and woods.

Hope that helps

[treecreeper]

It's common up here. I've even heard the Lancastrians make a pudding out of it. Here is the distribution map:

BSBI Maps Scheme: Hectad Map

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by treecreeper

It's common up here. I've even heard the Lancastrians make a pudding out of it. Here is the distribution map:

BSBI Maps Scheme: Hectad Map

Yeah the pudding is called Easter Ledges. I have never tried it myself but its hard to go to a place in Lancashire without seeing Bistort in flower. we also have 2 flowering periods in Spring and Autumn :

[FrankieBeee]

I think we have it in the meadow we're regenerating in north Cardiff, South Wales