Re: Japanese knotweed

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Louise --

 

You've accurately described Fallopia (a/k/a Persicaria, a/k/a Polygonum) japonicum (a/k/a P. cuspidatum)!  Talk about something that'll take over and overwhelm a stream bank, that's it.  I've seen it in many older gardens growing in dry, out of the way spots without soil amendments, and it stays reasonably within bounds as a large clump.  I've also seen it cover river banks with impenetrable vegetation 8'+ thick.  The "bamboo" moniker is based on appearance alone; the canes are useless.

 

I've heard from many people, though, that the variegated form is much less vigorous.  Jim Langhammer has a clump of it (he likes variegated things) and he's virtually phobic about anything that might be invasive.

 

Barb, just to be on the safe side you might want to plant it in a large pot.

 

Dean Sliger

Warren, Michigan, USA

Zone 6B

 

 

On Sat, 2 Sep 2000 07:48:09 +0100 "Louise" <louise@the-english-family.freeserve.co.uk> writes:
> If this is the Japanese knotweed that we have here in the UK
> (and I don't know our ones botanical name) throw it away
> immediately.  It's impossible to get rid of it. (Perhaps
> someone else over here knows the botanical name for our
> Japanese knotweed).  This is the most dreadful invasive
> plant introduced to the UK in the last 150 years - was
> introduced by Victorian gardeners for their streamsides.
> Sorry to be so depressing.
>
> Louise, Surrey, England
>
> > Hi all-
> > I just picked up a fallopia japonica 'variegata'.  Some
> web searches for
> > its common name (Japanese Knotweed) have me shakin' in my
> boots!!  Does
> > anyone have any experience with this, and is it really as
> invasive as it
> > sounds?  I'm planning on putting it in the "back-40" near
> the stream in
> > part shade where I thought the variagation would brighten
> things up.  I
> > love the whiteness on the leaves.  How best to contain it,
> if it is
> > indeed somewhat invasive (I'm open to the suggestion of
> tossing it in
> > the trash, too, if need be!)?
> >
> > TIA
> > Barb (southeastern PA, zone 6/7)
>
>
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