Why is Japanese Knotweed a problem?
Japanese Knotweed grows pretty much anywhere, from field edges to sand dunes, through asphalt and out of lamp-posts. The speed with which it has spread to all parts of the UK has been spectacular when you consider that it does not leave seeds behind but grows from pieces of the plant or root system that are cut and transported by people or by water. Because Japanese Knotweed does not originate in the UK, its does not compete fairly with our native species and is able to spread unchecked. Once established, Japanese Knotweed shades out native plants by producing a dense canopy of leaves early in the growing season. Although Japanese Knotweed is not toxic to humans, animals or other plants, it offers a poor habitat for native insects, birds and mammals.
