Persicaria lapathifolia, commonly known as Pale Smartweed, is a native annual plant found in moist fields, ditches, streambanks, floodplains, and other disturbed wet habitats throughout Illinois. It thrives in wet to moderately moist soils and full sun to partial sun, often colonizing areas with exposed or recently disturbed soil.
This fast-growing plant typically reaches 2.5 to 4 feet in height and features alternate, lance-shaped leaves that may show a dark “watermark” near the center. From summer into fall, it produces slender, tapering spikes of small pale pink to white flowers. The flowers are modest but attract pollinators, and the seeds are eaten by ducks and other wetland birds.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Persicaria lapathifolia is a useful species for wetland edge plantings, erosion control, and wildlife gardens. Though it is not as showy as some other natives, it plays a valuable ecological role by supporting pollinators and providing food for birds. It pairs well with other moisture-loving natives like Smartweeds, Sedges, and Blue Vervain in naturalized, wetland-style plantings.
Persicaria lapathifolia, commonly known as Pale Smartweed, is a native annual plant found in moist fields, ditches, streambanks, floodplains, and other disturbed wet habitats throughout Illinois. It thrives in wet to moderately moist soils and full sun to partial sun, often colonizing areas with exposed or recently disturbed soil.
This fast-growing plant typically reaches 2.5 to 4 feet in height and features alternate, lance-shaped leaves that may show a dark “watermark” near the center. From summer into fall, it produces slender, tapering spikes of small pale pink to white flowers. The flowers are modest but attract pollinators, and the seeds are eaten by ducks and other wetland birds.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Persicaria lapathifolia is a useful species for wetland edge plantings, erosion control, and wildlife gardens. Though it is not as showy as some other natives, it plays a valuable ecological role by supporting pollinators and providing food for birds. It pairs well with other moisture-loving natives like Smartweeds, Sedges, and Blue Vervain in naturalized, wetland-style plantings.
Bloom: mid-summer to early fall
Habitats: ditches along railroads and roadsides; edges of lakes and ponds; marshes; moist waste areas; mudflats and gravel bars of rivers; prairie swales
Lifespan: annual
Moisture: wet to moist
Plant type (height): forb (2.5 to 4 feet)
Requirements: full sun to partial sun
Soil: fertile soil with abundant organic matter
