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Native Plant Database

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Polygonum bistortoides (American bistort)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Polygonum bistortoides Pursh

American bistort, Western Bistort

Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)

USDA Symbol: pobi6

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

At tops of slender, erect, reddish stems bloom dense white or pale pink flower clusters.

One of the most common mountain wildflowers, sometimes covering meadows with thousands of clusters of white flowers. The stout roots were once prepared by Native Americans for food. Young leaves may be cooked as greens.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: Western Canada southward to southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Native Habitat: Moist mountain meadows or along mountain streams.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Polygonum bistortoides is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Mountain Fritillary
(Boloria alaskensis)
Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1995 VOL. 12, NO.5 - Water Recycling Utilizing Architecture at the Wildflower Center, Education Direc...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Polygonum bistortoides in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Polygonum bistortoides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Polygonum bistortoides

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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