Persicaria virginiana (Linnaeus) Gaertner. Section: Tovara. Common name: Jumpseed, Virginia Knotweed. Phenology: Jun-Oct. Habitat: Floodplains, other moist forests. Distribution: NH, QC, MN, and NE, south to n. peninsular FL and TX; disjunct in c. Mexico (PUE, VER).
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Section Tovara consists of 3-5 species of e. North America and e. Asia (Mun & Park 1995); if the section is recognized as a genus (as it often has been), the correct name for this species is Antenoron virginianum. Variation in North America, previously sometimes recognized as varieties (see synonymy) is under study by M. Pyne.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, Fl4, FNA5, Mex, Mi, Mo3, NE, NY, Pa, Tn, Va; = Antenoron virginianum (L.) Roberty & Vautier — Il, K4, Horton (1972); = Polygonum virginianum L. — C, GrPl, GW2, NcTx, Tx, W, WH3, Mitchell & Dean (1978), (basionym); = Tovara virginiana (L.) Raf. — RAB, S, S13, Tat, WV; < Persicaria virginiana (L.) Gaertn.; > Polygonum virginianum L. var. glaberrimum (Fernald) Steyerm. — G; > Polygonum virginianum L. var. virginianum — G; > Tovara virginiana (L.) Raf. var. glaberrima Fernald — F; > Tovara virginiana (L.) Raf. var. virginiana — F
Links to other floras: = Persicaria virginiana - FNA5
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.










Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Persicaria virginiana? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of floodplains and moist forests.
Stems: Stems simple or branched, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate and with a short-fringed, membranous sheath (ocrea) where petiole meets stem; oval to lance-shaped with rounded base; 2 1/2-6 in. long; usually hairy on both surfaces.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers widely spaced in a slender, terminal spike (to 14 in. long); white or greenish-white; about 1/4 in. wide when open but often closed and curving downward from the spike stalk; consisting of 4 pointed tepals and 4 stamens.
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: 1 1/2-4 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of floodplains and moist forests.
stems: Stems simple or branched, smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate and with a short-fringed, membranous sheath (ocrea) where petiole meets stem; oval to lance-shaped with rounded base; 2 1/2-6 in. long; usually hairy on both surfaces.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers widely spaced in a slender, terminal spike (to 14 in. long); white or greenish-white; about 1/4 in. wide when open but often closed and curving downward from the spike stalk; consisting of 4 pointed tepals and 4 stamens.
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America