Carey's Smartweed

Persicaria careyi

Native to:
Canada, United States
Carey's Smartweed

Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 668. Courtesy of Kentucky Native Plant Society. Scanned by Omnitek Inc.

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Polygonaceae
Genus:
Persicaria
Species:
Persicaria careyi
USDA Symbol:
POCA8

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
90 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
jul,aug,sep,oct
Bloom Colors:
pink, white

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
waterfowl, songbirds

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, fertile, well-drained loam
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Commonly found in wet meadows and along stream banks

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–28 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate best with cold stratification and consistent moisture. Light may enhance germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI