Hi, I have been struggling to identify a horrible plant, similar in nature to J knotweed in that it spreads vegetatively, by root or fragments, and has roots on each node, it grows in sections like knotweed. It's leaves are 10cm in length and hairy. In damp areas of soil it can grow up to 3ft in height. It thrives in semi shady moist areas amongst other plants.
The flowers are at the tip of the plant in clusters and are mostly white with pink tinge.
The plant stem is thin in diameter about 1cm, with node/sections at about 10-12cm. The stem is green with pink tinge at node areas.

Could this be Himalayan Knotweed?

Please help us help us identify this spreading plans and please could you give tips on how to irradiate it.

Many thanks!!

Looks like Persicaria/Knotweed. Knowing your location might narrow down the identification.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, this is in my garden in Wales:Great Britain... A very wet place.

Thanks

Hello again,

I've looked at persicaria pictures online and it looks like this. Have you any idea the best way of identifying which variety of persicaria it could be? It looks like maculosa but doesn't have the distinctive spot?

Thanks afain

Sorry, I cannot help to make an ID. It's a beautiful plant but where I live it is necessary to pull it out as a weed.
Maybe someone with more knowledge will chime in with an identification.

It doesn't matter which Knotweed it is, the eradication is the same: DIG! Dig up the plants, dig up the rhizomes, follow the runners and dig them up. Whenever a new one pops up, dig it up and follow the runners to the source (they can travel 50 or 60 feet). If a plant you want to keep is in the way, dig it up too (you can replant it after you have followed that runner).

You might be able to kill it with brush killer in the fall. Just as the leaves start to yellow, the roots are pulling nutrients down at an accelerated rate in preparation for surviving the winter. Spraying brush killer (at almost full strength) can do major damage to the plants. But it will also do major damage to any other susceptible plant nearby and it (unlike Roundup) does sink into the ground with some residual effects, especially in wet areas.

If you can cut them down to a couple inches and paint the stumps with full strength Brush Killer, it will help.

Good Luck!