Oriental Lady's-thumb

Persicaria longiseta

Found in disturbed areas, lawns, ditches. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

-55

Severe harm

Not native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height: 1–3 feet
Light: Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to wet

See native alternatives

Persicaria longiseta — flower photograph — no rights reserved · CC0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in West Virginia.

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Bluestem Goldenrod
Solidago caesia
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, light
Zigzag Goldenrod
Solidago flexicaulis
Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, light
Jumpseed
Persicaria virginiana
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Green or white.
Similar growth form, height, light

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At a glance

Life cycle: Annual
Bloom: May to October

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Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 7 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 136 animals.

Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Birds. 3 shared habitats
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Birds. 3 shared habitats

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

48CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Polygonum

Achyra rantalisGarden Webworm Moth
Acronicta insularisHenry's Marsh Moth, Cattail Caterpillar
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
Anticlea multiferataMany-Lined Carpet
Apantesis argeArge Tiger Moth
Apantesis naisNais Tiger Moth
Archips semiferanusOak Leafroller Moth
Calothysanis amaturariaCross-Lined Wave
Chionodes discoocellellaEyeringed Chionodes

Show all 48

Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
Coleophora cratipennellaStreaked Coleophora
Costaconvexa centrostrigariaBent-Lined Carpet
Dypterygia rozmaniAmerican Bird's-Wing
Elophila icciusalisPondside Pyralid, Pondside Crambid
Elophila obliteralisWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
Emmelina monodactylaMorning-Glory Plume Moth
Epiblema otiosanaBidens Borer Moth
Eusarca confusariaConfused Eusarca
Euxoa tessellataTessellate Dart, Striped Cutworm
Feltia subterraneaSubterranean Dart, Granulate Cutworm
Haematopis gratariaChickweed Geometer
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Homophoberia apicosaBlack Wedge-Spot, Smartweed Groundling
Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Maliattha synochitisBlack-Dotted Lithacodia, Black-Dotted Glyph, Brass-Dotted Grass Moth
Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
Nephelodes miniansBronzed Cutworm
Nomophila nearcticaLucerne Moth, American Celery Webworm
Orthonama obstipataThe Gem
Ostrinia obumbratalisSmartweed Borer
Ostrinia penitalisAmerican Lotus Borer, Lily Moth
Parapoynx obscuralisObscure Pondweed Moth
Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
Pseudeustrotia carneolaPink-Barred Lithacodia, Pink-Barred Pseudeustrotia
Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
Saucrobotys futilalisDogbane Saucrobotys
Schinia spinosaeSpinose Flower Moth
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
Spilosoma congruaAgreeable Tiger Moth
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
Tharsalea hyllusBronze Copper
Xanthorhoe ferrugataRed Twin-Spot, Twin-Spot Carpet
Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

58BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Polygonum

Agelaius phoeniceusRed-winged Blackbird
Aix sponsaWood Duck
Alectoris chukarChukar
Anas acutaNorthern Pintail
Anas creccaGreen-winged Teal
Anas platyrhynchosMallard
Anser albifronsGreater White-fronted Goose
Anthus rubescensAmerican Pipit
Aythya affinisLesser Scaup
Aythya americanaRedhead

Show all 58

Aythya collarisRing-necked Duck
Aythya valisineriaCanvasback
Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Bucephala clangulaCommon Goldeneye
Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
Centrocercus urophasianusGreater Sage-Grouse
Colinus virginianusNorthern Bobwhite
Columba liviaRock Pigeon
Columbina passerinaCommon Ground Dove
Coturnicops noveboracensisYellow Rail
Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
Dendrocygna autumnalisBlack-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dolichonyx oryzivorusBobolink
Eremophila alpestrisHorned Lark
Euphagus cyanocephalusBrewer's Blackbird
Francolinus francolinusBlack Francolin
Fulica americanaAmerican Coot
Gallinula galeataCommon Gallinule
Haemorhous mexicanusHouse Finch
Junco hyemalisDark-eyed Junco
Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
Mareca americanaAmerican Wigeon
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
Melozone crissalisCalifornia Towhee
Molothrus aterBrown-headed Cowbird
Oreortyx pictusMountain Quail
Oxyura jamaicensisRuddy Duck
Passer domesticusHouse Sparrow
Perdix perdixGray Partridge
Pheucticus melanocephalusBlack-headed Grosbeak
Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
Porzana carolinaSora
Quiscalus quisculaCommon Grackle
Rallus elegansKing Rail
Rallus limicolaVirginia Rail
Sialia mexicanaWestern Bluebird
Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
Spinus psaltriaLesser Goldfinch
Spizella passerinaChipping Sparrow
Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling
Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Vireo griseusWhite-eyed Vireo
Zenaida macrouraMourning Dove
Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Polygonaceae

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Height · “1–3 feet” · Minnesota Wildflowers
Life cycle · “Annual” · Minnesota Wildflowers
Light · “Partial shade; Full shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil · “Dry; Moist; Wet (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia

Also known as

Bristly Ladys Thumb; Creeping Smartweed; Oriental Lady's thumb; Polygonum cespitosum; Polygonum cespitosum var. longisetum; knotweed

Conservation status

West Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source