Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Alba' – Herbaceous Perennial
Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Alba', commonly known as White Mountain Fleece or White Persicaria, is a robust and graceful herbaceous perennial ideal for adding texture, height, and long-lasting colour to borders and naturalistic planting schemes. With its upright white flower spikes and lush green foliage, it’s a favourite among gardeners for its extended flowering period, wildlife-friendly qualities, and low-maintenance nature. Combines particularly well with blue or violet Asters such as Aster Monch or Aster Lady in Blue. Previously referred to as Persicaria. Note: Bistorta and Persicaria are related varieties; most species of Persicaria were reclassified as Bistorta.
At a Glance
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Type: Herbaceous perennial
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Flower Colour: Pure white
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Foliage: Broad, green, heart-shaped leaves
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Height: 1.2m (4ft)
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Spread: 0.9m (3ft)
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Flowering Time: July to October
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Hardiness: Very hardy down to -20°C and below (RHS H7)
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Position: Full sun to partial shade
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Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil
Elegant White Flower Spikes
Bistorta 'Alba' is known for its tall, slender spires of creamy-white flowers, which rise above the foliage from midsummer into autumn. These delicate, bottlebrush-like blooms sway gently in the breeze and add a vertical element to borders, contrasting beautifully with more rounded or mounded plants. The white flowers also reflect light in shadier parts of the garden, helping to brighten dimmer corners.
Long-Lasting and Wildlife Friendly
Flowering from July through to October, 'Alba' is one of the longest-blooming perennials in the garden. The flowers are rich in nectar, making them a reliable source of food for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators throughout the season. This makes it a great addition to wildlife-friendly or pollinator gardens.
Lush Foliage and Structural Impact
The plant’s broad, heart-shaped leaves form a dense mound of foliage at the base, creating a neat and tidy clump that helps suppress weeds. This foliage stays attractive from spring until the first frosts, adding a soft, green background to other perennials.
Easy to Grow and Low Maintenance
Bistorta 'Alba' is a low-maintenance plant that copes well with a range of conditions. It prefers a position in moist but well-drained soil and thrives in both full sun and partial shade. It performs particularly well in damp borders, streamside plantings, or informal garden beds, where it will naturalise easily over time.
Planting and Care Tips
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Watering: Keep the soil moist, especially in dry spells. Mulch in spring to help retain moisture.
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Potted: Can grown in pots can be planted at any time of the year providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
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Pruning: Generally doesn't require pruning. However, after flowering, you can cut back the plant to maintain its shape and encourage new growth
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Feeding: Not usually necessary in fertile soils, but a mulch of compost in spring can boost performance.
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Dividing: Can be divided every few years in spring or autumn to maintain vigour and control spread.
Great for Garden Design
Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Alba' works well in a variety of garden styles:
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Cottage gardens, where its informal style suits mixed plantings
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Meadow-style or naturalistic planting, alongside grasses and other perennials
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Moist borders and stream edges, where its love of damp soil comes into its own
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Shadier borders, where the white flowers can add brightness and contrast
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Urban gardens, due to its tidy habit and minimal care requirements
It pairs beautifully with plants like Veronicastrum, Helenium, Astilbe, and ornamental grasses, providing contrast in form and colour.
Hardiness and Winter Care
Rated RHS H7, Bistorta 'Alba' is fully hardy throughout the UK, tolerating temperatures down to -20°C and below. In winter, the foliage dies back completely, returning reliably in spring. A layer of mulch will help protect the crown and maintain soil health over the colder months.
Why Choose Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Alba'?
This is a reliable, attractive, and pollinator-friendly perennial that offers months of flowering and year-round structure with minimal effort. Its tolerance of damp soils and shade, as well as its neat growth habit, make it a versatile and easy addition to almost any garden.
Order now and enjoy the elegant charm of Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Alba' in your garden this season.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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