Re: Japanese knotweed or Polygonum cuspidatum

> From: ECPep@aol.com
><A HREF="http://fisher.bio.umb.edu/knotweed/";>Click here: The
Japanese Knotweed Page: Research on Fallopia japonica and Related
Species</A> 
>This page suggests all relatives may be a problem.  
------------
Interesting, Claire.  I am not plagued with this weedy one (thank
heavens...I have enough plaguey plants), but I did buy Polygonum
cuspidatum 'Crimson Beauty' (now Fallopia japonica 'Crimson Beauty
according to RHS Plant Finder) from Plant Delights back in '96 with a
certain amount of fear and trepidation.  However, true to Tony's
word, this plant seems to be a clump former.  I even moved it a
couple years ago and there was absolutely no sign of rhizome
activity.  So far, have seen no seedlings, either and have never
gotten around to dead-heading.  It's a very attractive plant, BTW,
just like his catalog described:-)

Other than this plant, all Polygonum, Persicaria, Fallopia,
whatever-they-now-call-it, members of this family bear watching, tho'
I would not go so far as to say they are *all* a problem.  They can
be lovely in the right location or devour the garden, depending on
the plant, climate, soil, etc.  Some are very easy to remove; some
are not.  I would not 'never' grow any, simply because of their often
aggressive ways, but the gardener needs to grow them with their eyes
open to the possibilities.

I was given a bit of P. virginianum 'Variegatum' last year; barely
rooted, it hung on and I planted it in a triangle formed by 3 large
trees, figuring the root competition might keep it in check.  We
shall see:-)  It supposedly can move out if given ideal conditions. 
My goal is to have the marvelous foliage (supposed to get about 5'
tall or so) without it realizing any plans for world domination...

I grew what was P. cuspidatum 'Afghan' from seed a number of years
ago.  It is not hardy for me, but makes a very attractive
groundcover...it has seeded into some large pots of Brugmansia, where
I leave it and seeded into the gravel floor of the greenhouse, where
I pull it out.  In a place where it was hardy, I think it would
really cover ground.  This is a very low-growing plant with a purple
chevron on the leaf, reddish stems and little pink ball
flowers...cute.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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