Re: Japanese knotweed or Polygonum cuspidatum

Marge, I'm very relieved to hear that you find 'Crimson Beauty' (whatever
its current botanical classification) to be safe.  I bought it last fall,
also with great trepidation and a phone call to the nursery for confirmation
that it was not going to take over the world, from Crownsville Nursery.  I
was nearly ready to rush outside in my nightgown and rip it out of the
ground!
Merri Morgan
Zone 5b, WV

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@hort.net>
To: <perennials@hort.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 2:43 AM
Subject: 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
> Editor:  Gardening in Shade
> -----------------------------------------------
> Current Article: Wild, Wonderful Aroids Part 4 - Arisaema
> http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/shade_gardening
> ------------------------------------------------
> Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date
> http://mtalt.hort.net/article-index.html
> ------------------------------------------------
> All Suite101.com garden topics :
> http://www.suite101.com/topics.cfm/635
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
> message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index