Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Scarlet Smartweed
(Water Heartsease)
Persicaria coccinea [C-value 4]
Smartweed family (Polygonaceae)
Blooms mid-July -
mid-October
The native Scarlet Smartweed is uncommon in our area. This perennial prefers full sun and wet conditions where flooding occasionally occurs. It can grow in shallow water, where it will assume a more aquatic habit and form and can spread aggressively to form large colonies. It is 2–3˝' tall and usually unbranched with alternate leaves are up to 8" long and 3" across, lance-shaped and untoothed. Terminal racemes of flowers occur at the top of the hairy flowering stalks. The cylindrical racemes are about 2-3" long and densely crowded with tiny 5-petal rosy pink or scarlet flowers.
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Scarlet Smartweed at Subat Forest Preserve flooded area September 2, 2013
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Scarlet Smartweed at Subat Forest Preserve flooded area September 2, 2013
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Scarlet Smartweed foliage at Subat Forest Preserve flooded area September 2, 2013
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Scarlet Smartweed at Subat Forest Preserve flooded area September 11, 2013
Colony of Scarlet Smartweed at Subat Forest Preserve flooded area September 2, 2013
Smartweed was sometimes called "Water-Pepper” as the bitter taste of its leaves is “smarting”. It was used by Native Americans as an antiseptic and as a stimulant for “pains of the joints”. Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.
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