Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

jointweed, October flower

Synonym(s):

Polygonella polygama

Genus species:

Polygonum polygamum

Family:

Polygonaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1-5 ft tall by wide-spreading ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,pink

Fruit Color:

white,red,brown

Phenology:

Winter deciduous. Blooms late summer to mid fall.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Dry, sunny wildflower garden.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Rarely used in landscapes.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Short very dry periods ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators

Attracts bees  ( CoastalPlainsPlants ).  Documented species include  Colletes inandibularis, Augochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis anonytna, A. metallica, Dialictus nyinphalis, D. placidensis, Halictus ligatus and  Sphecodes heraclei (Deyrup et al. 2002). 

Native Habitats:

Scrub, sandhill, scrubby flatwoods, open disturbed areas.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

There are two varies in Florida:  Polygonum polygamum var. polygamum and  Polygonum polygamum  var. brachystachyum