Bistorta affinis (syn. Persicaria affinis), East Indian Knotweed fast-growing and its cute catkins are

and its cute catkins are profuse and short

Not even young deer are so bold as to sample them

playing a foot above compact fluffy ferny leaves that are edible if you're so inclined

held above the foliage

Soft lavender-blue to deep violet flowers appear in late winter and early spring

Bistorta affinis (syn. Persicaria affinis), East Indian Knotweed fast-growing and its cute catkins areA shorter Persicaria, this species creeps to form a dense mat. Narrow leaves ascend among its cylindrical flower spikes of varying pinks and reds that bloom mid summer and into autumn. It's " native to the Himalayas in altitudes up to 15,800 where it creeps over alpine slopes, glacial moraines, rocky areas, wet meadows and stream banks." Missouri Botanical Garden. This is an excellent, semi evergreen ground cover, leaves turning russet in fall and