Jumpseed / American Jumpseed
Persicaria virginiana (syn. Tovara virginiana, Antenoron virginianum) · Herbaceous Perennial (Not a tree; commonly found growing in wooded understories and garden borders)
Plant Family
Polygonaceae (Smartweed / Buckwheat family)
Tree Category
Native Woodland Perennial / Wildflower
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type / Standard species
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8.
About This Tree
An upright, clump-forming herbaceous perennial growing 2 to 4 feet tall. It features slender, wiry, arching flowering spikes lined with tiny white-to-greenish flowers, followed by small hooked seeds that snap or 'jump' off the stalk when touched.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves with smooth or finely wavy margins, dark green, oval-to-elliptic shape with pointed tips, often featuring a dark chevron or 'V'-shaped dark blotch near the center of the leaf blade.
Bark Characteristics
Does not produce true wood or bark; stems are green to reddish-green, smooth, slender, jointed, and swollen at the node sheath (ocrea).
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Eastern and Central North America
Growing Season
Emerges in mid-spring, flowers from mid-summer into early autumn, produces seed spikes in fall, and dies back completely to the roots after frost.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in Partial Shade to Full Shade; prefers consistently moist, rich, well-draining soils high in organic matter.
Mature Size
Height: 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 m); Spread: 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 m); Growth Rate: Fast annual seasonal regrowth.
Special Characteristics
Seeds possess a spring-like mechanism that flings them when brushed against. Very shade-tolerant and adaptable to damp woodland conditions.
Wildlife & Ecology
Attracts small bees, syrphid flies, and native pollinators. Hooked achenes catch on animal fur for seed dispersal. Foliage provides food for caterpillars of several moth species.