How to Grow and Care for Bistorta

Common bistort (Bistorta officinalis) is an herbaceous perennial that is native to Europe and parts of northern and western Asia. Each plant produces a long flower spike that is a cluster of pale-pink flowers. The roots of this plant are often thick and twisted, earning it another common name of snakeroot.

Red bistort (Bistorta amplexicaulis) is also known as mountain fleece. It grows in and around the Himalaya mountains. As a general rule red bistort needs plenty of moisture and grows best when out of direct sunlight. The flowers bloom from summer to fall and often attract butterflies and birds.

Alpine bistort (Bistorta vivipara subsp. vivipara) is interesting because its roots grow in mutually beneficial relationships with certain species of fungi. This plant was grown as a crop by the Samoyed people of Siberia. Reindeer and rock ptarmigans are very fond of the starch-rich bulbils of this plant.

The bistort is also known as snakeroot and snakeweed, because of its thick, twisted roots. The genus was first identified in 1743 by the famous botanist Carl Linnaeus. In some regions of England, bistort is associated with the Easter holiday.

Serpent grass is not only very pretty but also an important food source for wild animals, including the snow goose, rock ptarmigans, and reindeer. The perennial herb grows at high elevations and can be found in the Alps, Pyrenees, and Caucasus. One of its not-so-pretty traits is its odor, which gives it the nickname "miner's toes."