Fallopia aubertii Summer Sunshine

The Fallopia 'Summer Sunshine' is a particularly colourful climbing knotweed selection, interesting from spring to autumn. Its red spring shoots give way to yellow foliage, very bright, which serves as a backdrop for countless white and fluffy panicles in late summer. Even more decorative than the classic Fallopia aubertii, equally visited by bees, this variety is also slightly less vigorous, and therefore easier to control.

This 'Summer Sunshine' Knotweed belongs to the Polygonaceae family. It is a rhizomatous perennial with woody stumps that develops long voluble climbing or creeping stems, depending on the attachment points they encounter along their way. They can thus launch an assault on quite substantial supports and extend to lengths of 6 to 7 m (20 to 23ft). This can be an asset for covering unsightly scenery, but it is sometimes necessary to monitor its development at the risk of being overrun. Severe pruning will help to calm its vigour. It enjoys sunny exposures, but tolerates partial shade and is content with a fairly poor soil, but sufficiently deep and not too dry. It also tolerates limestone soils.

The young shoots of this climbing knotweed, 'Summer Sunshine', are red in colour, just like the petioles that bear the leaves. The leaves are arranged alternately, heart-shaped and measure from 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in). Their colour is a golden yellow. In August-September, long floral spikes form. They easily reach 20 cm (8in) in length and are composed of multiple small immaculate flowers. They attract many pollinating insects and stand out distinctly from the yellow foliage in the background, forming a beautiful contrast. The foliage is deciduous and absent in winter.

The 'Summer Sunshine' climbing knotweed is perfect for a natural garden that wants to shelter abundant wildlife. It generously feeds insects and provides a refuge for birds thanks to its volume. It grows fairly quickly and withstands bad weather. It can therefore be used to create a solid and pleasantly colourful privacy screen, also offering a long flowering period extended by decorative fruits. To accompany it, consider, for example, a vigorous 'Spooneri' clematis montana, Double Delight or henryi clematis with white flowers. To complete this country scene, Foxgloves, grasses, and Centaureas will slip into the foreground to bloom in spring and early summer.