Purple stem plant--what is it?

13 years ago

I apologize in advance for not having a picture. I ran across a plant a couple of years ago and I don't know what it is and I appreciate any help I can get.

The plant has purple round "stems", sort of like bamboo, that come out of the ground from a central location, and new "stems" will add on each year.

The "stems" grow to about four to five feet high. On the other hand, the plant will also "run" underground and will throw up new shoots or stems when it hits something solid, like a wall.

The leaves are also purple and are heart-shaped or arrow-shaped. The plant has beautiful white flower clusters in the spring.

I called it "purple arrowhead bamboo" for lack of another name. It was growing in a yard and the owners did not know the name of the plant.

I know this is not much to go on, but I appreciate any guesses.

Featured Answer

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

4 years ago

What plant, Tim? Can you post a picture and say where you are located? Or start a new post with more information rather than adding to an eight year old post which was never definitively identified.

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Comments (7)

anitamo
13 years ago
Just a guess...Joe-Pye Weed, Eupatorium purpureum?
chills71
13 years ago
just a guess....

Persecaria...

maybe Red Dragon

~Chills
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mosswitch
13 years ago
I think it might be a tovara, or polygonum, aka fleeceflower, knotweed, one of the many varieties. Just so liong as it is not Japanese knotweed, which is extremely invasive (yard-eating, neighborhood eating, house eating invasive). There are other varieties that are more well-behaved and very pretty.

A picture would be helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Persicaria
laceyvail 6A, WV
13 years ago
I guessed knotweed (or one of the non invasive Persicarias like Crimson Beauty) too, until I saw that it bloomed in spring. Persicarias bloom in late summer.

And it's definitely not a Eupatorium (Joe Pye). They also bloom in mid-late summer.
Tim Withetow
4 years ago
I have this plant growing in my front yard any ideas about what it is
sunnyborders
4 years ago
As per floral; location and picture.

Stems growing to about 4 to 5 feet and blooming in the spring; not expected in a herbaceous perennial garden around here. Also a runner; not a horticulturally converted clump-former.