Question: what is japanese knot weed?

Chris Werner answered on 11 Nov 2017:

Japanese knotweed is a very annoying plant, and like the name suggests, its not from around here! Its like the dandelions that you usually see, a weed, a plant that grows where you don’t want it to. Some weeds are pretty, but some just take over everything. Japanese knotweed is one of these. Cork County Council released a detailed pamphlet showing what to do if you find one of these and how to get rid of it…with difficulty is the answer. Its like a cancer, spreading and taking over anything. That’s why its so problematic, so much so that its a criminal offence in some places to allow it to spread!!

In its original habitat in Japan near volcanoes, it would be small due to the climate and regular ash deposits. Here though, different climate, no volcanoes, so it goes berserk!!