More jewels
Jewels of Opar is not the only plant that's producing masses of tiny red gems in my garden right now.
The genus that really takes over the garden in early autumn is Persicaria, with Persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette' taking the stage in the front garden with its diminutive blooms.
Missouri Botanical Garden's plant finder page says that butterflies visit this plant.
I'm not sure that I've ever noticed that, but I did see a woolly bear caterpillar on one of the bloom stems this morning -- does that count?
Yes, these actually are blooms...
...although they're not really that remarkable and quickly close. The minuscule seed pods look great en masse though.
Unfortunately, pretty much every one of these seeds will germinate -- or so it seems.
But I don't worry about that now -- I just enjoy!
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Persicaria Painter's Palette self seeds there? Cool! Have to say I haven't noticed any butterflies on ours either, and sometimes I don't even notice the blooms at all, being fixated with the leaves but the dainty blooms are nice in their own way too.
Mark/Gaz: does it ever! I have this in five different spots in my garden now, and I just added this plant two years ago! The only problem is that we get dry at times during the summer and they get pretty droopy.