What S Japanese Knotweed
However from an ecological perspective these plant traits are.
What s japanese knotweed. Reynoutria japonica synonyms fallopia japonica and polygonum cuspidatum is a large species of herbaceous perennial plant of the knotweed and buckwheat family polygonaceae. It prefers sunny moist areas including riverbanks roadsides lawns and gardens. Identifying japanese knotweed. It spreads rapidly and it wipes out native species in its relentless progress across the land as well as posing a serious threat to building foundations and drains.
It is commonly known as asian knotweed or japanese knotweed it is native to east asia in japan china and korea in north america and europe the species has successfully established itself in numerous habitats and is. In winter the plant dies back to ground level but by early summer the bamboo like stems emerge from rhizomes deep underground to shoot to over 2 1m 7ft suppressing all other plant growth. Knotweed is used for swelling inflammation of the main airways in the lung cough sore throat a. And then to north america in the 19th century as a landscaping ornamental.
Japanese knotweed is known by many names including polygonum cuspidatum fallopia japonica and reynoutria japonica. Japanese knotweed fallopia japonica is an aggressive weed that can grow up to 10cm a day. Overview information knotweed is an herb. The whole flowering plant is used to make medicine.
Japanese knotweed fallopia japonica is a weed that spreads rapidly. Japanese knotweed is an incredibly resilient plant usually found on wasteland sites but sometimes creeping its way into gardens. Japanese knotweed costs the uk economy an estimated 166 million per year for treatment and in property devaluations. This invasive weed proliferates alongside riverbanks and is particularly harmful to native species.
Japanese knotweed s ease of spread and rapid growth from a deep rhizome root system was initially prized for planting schemes. Eradication requires determination as it is very hard to remove by hand or eradicate with chemicals. Growing to a depth of 3m with a radius of 7m it can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to buildings and sites. Japanese knotweed is a member of the buckwheat family.
The plant arrived from japan to the u k. Even if all goes as planned japanese knotweed may send up shoots from its rhizome system beyond the perimeter of the area that you have covered with a tarp or old carpeting. It is now the most invasive plant species in this country and across the uk.
