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Perennials Lawn Care Garden Clinic

plant ID: possible knotweed?

2 years ago

Hi! Moved into a new house last year late summer and just noticed a few of these popping up in the backyard. Searching the internet for “red shoots” turns up Japanese knotweed, which I’d like to get in front of if that’s what we’re dealing with. So what are these? Thanks in advance!

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Jay 6a Chicago
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
It's not Japanese knotweed. It's a monocot and looks like something in the Lily family. I would allow it to grow. Could be an ornamental Allium, or a native Uvularia, ect...Polygonatum? Maianthemum? Convallaria?
katob Z6ish, NE Pa
2 years ago
It's Polygonatum, Solomon's Seal, possibly the variegated form. A tough 1-2 foot tall perennial that can act as a groundcover in part shade or shady areas. Definitely a keeper. The sprouts broken off will not grow or resprout, but next year the roots will send up new shoots even if they sit dormant all summer.
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Hi Thanks for you input. Unfortunately can't check as they are at my parents. They were thick stems like bamboo. I put it up here because worried it was knotweed but the leaves rules that out. I've checked by looking through images I couldn't find ones that showed the stems and the distinctive red roots. The leaves didn't smell of anything. Ants crawling all over it. BTW I'm in UK. Thanks again.
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Jill T
Original Author
2 years ago
Wonderful news, thank you both!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
wonderful ... except that you already broke it off .. yikes.. be a bit more patient .. its only the second day of spring ..

in the future... let us know in every post.. where you are.. big city name .... e.g. i think of knotweed as a warm soil plant .. you dont seem to notice it till later in spring .. ergo.. i wouldn expect to see it in my MI on mid march ...

welcome to the forums.. come back often ...

ken

ps: many of us recommend not doing much the first summer in a new garden ... just observe and plan .... lets see what he prior owners let youl.. good or bad ... killing knotweed would be approved ... lol
Jill T
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks Ken. I’m in Zone 7, plenty of things starting to poke through here. The broken sprout was an accident as I was trying to get a photo of the rhizome. Thanks for the welcome!

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