Prince’s Feathers, Prince’s Plume
Persicaria orientalis

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A herb which can grow each year from seed or keeps growing from year to year. It can grow in water or on land. It grows 1-2 m high and spreads 1-2 m wide. Young growth is very hairy. The stems are robust and finely hairy. The stem is 1-1.5 cm thick but slender in the upper part. It is often covered with grey hairs. The leaves are 6-25 cm long by 3.5-12 cm wide. They are oval and taper to the tip and have stalks. They are green and hairy on both surfaces. The flower spikes have 3-6 flowers and are 2-8 cm long and drooping. They occur in clusters at the ends of branches at the top of the plant. The flowers are 0.4 cm long and pink. The fruit is a small brown nut.

There are about 75 Persicaria species. It can irritate the skin.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows at the edges of swamps. It grows in wetlands. It can survive a dry season. It grows at low altitudes. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Central Asia, China, East Africa, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Manchuria, Myanmar, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Tajikistan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a pot herb.

The leaves are eaten as a famine food in China. The leaves are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bara pani mirich, Bon kunhiar, Bon kuhiyar, Hong liao, Hongthao, Jalynoh, Kiss-me-over-the-garden gate, Nghe ba, Nghe dong, Oriental pepper, Oriental persicary, Princess-Feather, Red knotweed, Shuihonghuazi, Taktir oing, Yellang

Synonyms

Laguna cochinchinensis Lour.; Persicaria cochinchinensis (Lour.) Kitag.; Polygonum orientale L.; and several others