Skip to main content

Dotted Smartweed

Persicaria punctata

Last reviewed: June 2026

Dotted Smartweed (Persicaria punctata)
Photo: (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

12"–40" H × 6"–24" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 42 more states

Pollinators

bees, flies, beetles

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast RangeSierra NevadaCentral California ValleyCentral California Foothills and Coastal MountainsSouthern California/Northern Baja CoastCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeChihuahuan DesertsCentral Oklahoma/Texas PlainsEdwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsSonoran Basin and Range

Dotted smartweed is a native annual wildflower that produces small pink or white flower spikes from summer through early fall. This moisture-loving plant thrives in wet soils and can grow quite tall, making it better suited for naturalized areas than formal gardens.

In an HOA neighborhood

Dotted Smartweed takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Looks weedy and informal
  • Can grow quite tall and rangy
  • Annual nature means gaps in coverage

Wildlife value

The summer flowers attract bees, flies, and beetles for nectar and pollen. Seeds provide food for waterfowl and other birds in fall.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does Dotted Smartweed fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.

See it in the app

iPhone appAndroid app