There was an article recently in the local weekly paper about the ‘arrival’ of Japanese knotweed in this area.

Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica var. japonica, or Fallopia japonica) (Renouée du Japon) is an ‘alien invasive’ plant. These displace indigenous plants by taking over habitat; they unbalance ecosystems; and they can cause allergies and reactions. Certain alien plants are estimated to cost the Canadian economy $2.2 BILLION annually in agricultural weed control.

Colonists brought plants and seeds with them, or seeds and roots would hitchhike their way here through trade. But most alien invasive plants were brought here on purpose, and the majority of those as ornamentals.

Some of them are scary – Giant Hogweed, yikes! Or pretty – don’t get me started about this – Loosestrife (Lythrum) in Québec gardens, despite being banned from sale as a landscape plant in Ontario for several years.

Japanese knotweed grows quickly; it grows tall; it is deer-resistant; it makes nice flowers – what could be wrong?

From a tiny root fragment, ‘bamboo’ can colonize and send roots as far as 10 meters. Yes, 30 feet or more, with the potential to break up asphalt, concrete, and foundations. The plants will choke out any other growth. In England, before a property can change hands, it must be declared free of Japanese knotweed; if found, you need to excavate down to 4 m and send the soil to a toxic waste site, or you probably can’t get a mortgage on the property! No joke.

‘Bamboo’ has been in the area for a while. There is a huge stand on the chemin Labelle, just along Lac Ouimet – the old Gray Rocks road. Every year you see people digging out pieces to plant at home. The only way to get rid of it is with glyphosate (Roundup), applied repeatedly, and even that is iffy. If you cut it, it will spread. Burn it? Same. Dig it up? Heavy equipment, maybe, and you need to send the remains to a special facility.

So, if anyone offers you a cutting of ‘bamboo’, as it is known here, just say no. Japanese knotweed is bad stuff. Be aware of invasive plants, control them, and don’t use them! It starts with you.