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. 89 animals.

Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Birds. 2 shared habitats
American Coot
Fulica americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Woodcock
Scolopax minor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue-winged Warbler
Vermivora pinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cerulean Warbler
Dendroica cerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Wood-pewee
Contopus virens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Gadwall
Anas strepera
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Golden-winged Warbler
Vermivora chrysoptera
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Hooded Warbler
Wilsonia citrina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Least Bittern
Ixobrychus exilis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Birds. 1 shared habitat

Widespread birds also seen here (47)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

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

16BirdsRecorded eating Persicaria in West Virginia

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes West Virginia, most records first.