Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’
Red Dragon Fleece Flower
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Height
- 1 to 3 feet tall
- Width
- 1 to 3 feet wide
- Flower color
- Pink or white
- Foliage color
- Red, green, and cream variegation
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Medium; tolerates moist to wet soil
- Maintenance
- Moderate; prune to control spread and maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant
About this plant
Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon', also known as red dragon fleeceflower, is a striking perennial native to China and Myanmar, known for its vibrant red and burgundy leaves with striking pink or silver markings. Forming clumps of upright stems with glossy, lance-shaped leaves, it adds significant ornamental value to gardens. In summer, it produces small, pinkish-white flowers in dense, slender spikes at the tips of the stems, adding a delicate and airy quality. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, 'Red Dragon' is well-suited for borders, woodland gardens, and containers, and is relatively low-maintenance and resistant to pests and diseases.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Rain Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Heucheras · Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture.
