If you’re looking for a big, bright, easy-to-care-for flowering plant that’s a little off the beaten path, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is an excellent choice. Keep reading for growing kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate info.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Persicaria orientalis is a species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, known as kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate and princess-feather. It was first described, as Polygonum orientale, by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It was transferred to the genus Persicaria by Édouard Spach in 1841. Its native distribution is unclear. As of April 2023, Kew’s Plants of The World Online lists its native distribution as ranging from the Russian far east to Indochina, Malesia and Australia. It is widely cultivated and naturalized.
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is a very fast-growing annual that self-seeds in the fall. Once you’ve planted it, you’re likely to have the flower in that spot for years to come. While the plant can grow up to 7 feet (2 m.) tall and 4 feet (1 m.) wide, it rarely, if ever, needs to be staked. The kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate flower blooms in 3-inch (7.5 cm.) long spiky clusters that hang pendulously in shades of red to white to magenta.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate does not transplant well, so seedlings are not often found in nurseries, but you can sow seeds directly in the ground in the fall or late winter or after a period
of stratification in the spring. If starting in the spring, chill your seeds in a sealed bag or container in the refrigerator for approximately 4 to 6 weeks before either starting indoors or direct-sowing after the last frost date.
When you are ready, fill biodegradable pots with sterile potting mix and sow the seeds just slightly below the surface of the soil (2 seeds per 2-inch pot). Make sure you choose pots that you can plant in the garden as kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants have brittle roots that will not tolerate being transplanted. Mist the soil and place the pots in a plastic bag to germinate in a location that stays approximately 70 degrees. Water the seeds only if the soil begins to dry out.
Once the seeds begin to germinate (about 1 to 2 weeks), remove the plastic bag and place the pots in an area that receives at least 6 hours of full sun each day. Once your seedlings start producing leaves, thin them by pinching the weakest of the two seedlings off at the soil level. Your plantable pots can be put into the ground after the danger of frost has passed. If you are planting more than one, place them approximately 18 to 24 inches apart.
Temperature and Humidity
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate fares best in temperatures approximately 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with moderate humidity. It is not frost tolerant.
Soil and Water
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate will achieve the most-impressive growth in fertile, well-drained soil. It can also tolerate poor soil if it is not too wet.
Your kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants will need regular watering to keep blooming, especially as the weather warms. During the hottest months, plan to water them more than once per week, but check the soil first to see that it remains moist but not wet. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
Fertilizing
Most experts suggest you don’t fertilize kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants as they prefer soils with modest fertility. Fertilization can lead to uninhabitable soil conditions that may cause yellowing, wilting, and under-developed blooms.
Planting Instructions
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is a pretty annual that attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. It grows best in full sun (at least 6 hours a day), but can handle partial shade as long as it gets at least a few hours of direct sunlight.
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate does not transplant well, so seedlings are not often found in nurseries, but you can sow seeds directly in the ground in the fall or late winter or after a period
of stratification in the spring. If starting in the spring, chill your seeds in a sealed bag or container in the refrigerator for approximately 4 to 6 weeks before either starting indoors or direct-sowing after the last frost date.
When you are ready, fill biodegradable pots with sterile potting mix and sow the seeds just slightly below the surface of the soil (2 seeds per 2-inch pot). Make sure you choose pots that you can plant in the garden as kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants have brittle roots that will not tolerate being transplanted. Mist the soil and place the pots in a plastic bag to germinate in a location that stays approximately 70 degrees. Water the seeds only if the soil begins to dry out.
Once the seeds begin to germinate (about 1 to 2 weeks), remove the plastic bag and place the pots in an area that receives at least 6 hours of full sun each day. Once your seedlings start producing leaves, thin them by pinching the weakest of the two seedlings off at the soil level. Your plantable pots can be put into the ground after the danger of frost has passed. If you are planting more than one, place them approximately 18 to 24 inches apart.
Pruning
Since kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is an annual plant, it does not require much pruning, but you can remove yellowing leaves to improve the look of the plant. Deadheading is also not required to keep the plant in blooms all season, but you can prevent self-seeding by removing the blooms before they fade. At the end of the growth cycle, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants will die to the ground, and you can clear the dead plants.
Propagation
If you are interested in growing kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, it is best to start plants from seed. This is a fairly easy process but there is one thing to keep in mind: kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate seeds require stratification to germinate. This means providing seeds with several weeks of cold to simulate winter and help break their dormancy. One of the easiest ways to do this is to allow them to experience a natural winter by sowing seeds in the fall where you would like them to grow the following year. You can also give them a simulated winter by storing seeds in the refrigerator or freezer for 4 to 6 weeks. After the seeds have gone through their chilling process, plant them (two each) in 2-inch biodegradable pots to germinate. Once they begin to sprout, it is best to thin them out because each plant will become quite tall and large.
Pests and Diseases
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is not plagued by many pests, but Japanese beetles and leaf beetles may munch on the foliage.
Overwatering or overly humid conditions could cause issues with mildew, mold, and rot. Check the soil before you water and make sure to plant your kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants at least 18 to 24 inches apart so they have adequate air circulation.
III. Uses and Benefits
Its height makes it perfect for the centerpiece of a cottage or pollinator garden and—as its common name implies—it looks beautiful when planted against a picket fence or at the edge of a garden gate.
IV. Types of Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate
- ‘Cerise Pearls’ Persicaria Orientalis
Persicaria Orientalis ‘Cerise Pearls’ is a dwarf variety of kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate that only grows about 3 or 4 feet tall. It features lush foliage and eye-catching tassel-like reddish-pink flowers that bloom from July to October. This hardy annual prefers full sun and is happy in almost any kind of soil.
- ‘Shiro-gane Nishiki’ Persicaria Orientalis
‘Shiro-gane Nishiki’ kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is another relatively new, relatively rare cultivar that features soft pink (almost lavender) flowers that bloom from late summer until early frost (typically October). It has broad green variegated leaves splotched with cream and prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun.