Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibia)

Amphibious Bistort

Versatile native aquatic plant with vibrant pink flowers and excellent wildlife value

Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibia) is a highly adaptable and native aquatic perennial, ideal for creating a natural, wildlife friendly pond environment. As its name suggests, this plant thrives both as a marginal and as a deeper water plant, making it an incredibly versatile choice for a wide range of pond designs.

From early summer through to autumn, Amphibious Bistort produces striking pink, bottlebrush like flower spikes that rise above the water surface. These vibrant blooms bring movement and colour to your pond while attracting bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial pollinators. The flowers stand tall above the foliage, creating a bold yet natural look that works beautifully in both formal and wildlife ponds.

The foliage is equally appealing, with glossy, lance shaped green leaves that can either float on the water surface or grow above it depending on depth. This flexibility allows the plant to adapt to changing water levels and planting positions. The leaves also provide valuable shelter for aquatic life, offering resting areas for insects and protection for amphibians such as frogs and newts.

One of the standout features of Amphibious Bistort is its ability to grow across a wide range of water depths, from shallow margins down to deeper water up to 80 cm. This makes it ideal for filling gaps between planting zones and creating a more natural transition within the pond.

As a UK native plant, it is extremely hardy and well suited to local conditions. It grows quickly and can spread effectively, helping to cover bare areas and improve biodiversity. However, due to its vigorous nature, occasional division may be required to keep it under control.

Supplied pre planted in an aquatic basket, this plant is ready to be placed straight into your pond, making it an easy and effective addition to any aquatic setting.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

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Key Benefits

• Native UK aquatic plant supporting local wildlife
• Bright pink bottlebrush flowers from June to September
• Extremely versatile, suitable for shallow and deeper water
• Provides shelter for fish, insects, and amphibians
• Helps create a natural, wildlife friendly pond
• Fast growing and effective for coverage
• Fully hardy and easy to establish

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Reasons to Buy

• Ideal for wildlife ponds and natural planting schemes
• Adds height, colour, and movement to pond areas
• Can be used across multiple pond zones
• Attracts pollinators and supports biodiversity
• Supplied ready planted for simple installation

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Care Instructions

• Place the plant on a marginal shelf or in deeper water up to 80 cm, depending on your pond layout. Lower gradually if planting deeper to allow leaves to adjust and reach the surface.
• Divide the plant regularly to prevent overcrowding and maintain healthy growth. This is especially important due to its fast growth rate.

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Flowering Period

June to September

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Amphibious Bistort will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available basket sizes:

• Pack of 3 × 9cm Pots
• 3 Litre Hexagonal Basket – 18 × 18 × 16cm

Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.

Plants supplied in 9cm pots require potting into suitable aquatic baskets before being placed in the pond.

Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.

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Similar pond plants

For another pond-edge planting option, compare Common Bistort (Persicaria bistorta) and Ann Chowning Louisiana Iris (Iris louisiana).

Explore more marginal pond plants or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.