Best of the bunch

●●Persicaria affinis ‘Superba’ PERSICARIA has a bit of a reputation – its common name is knotweed, and many regard it as just that – weedy and invasive.

You do need to be careful about which species you select, but ‘Superba’ lives up to its name. It’s a low-growing, mat-forming perennial with pink flowers deepening to crimson.

The flowers last well into autumn and the deep green leaves turn bronze.

It’s very good as ground cover so long as your soil doesn’t dry out – it really prefers moist or poorly drained soil.

It’s a good choice for wildlife-friendly gardeners as it provides late pollen for bees and butterflies, and birds eat the flower seeds.