Japanese knotweed is a prolific, invasive weed that dies back to ground level during the winter and produces shoots rapidly in early spring. It frequently overgrows and smothers other plants, outcompeting many native species in their natural environment for space, light and water. Very difficult to remove from the soil due to its vigorous, spreading rhizomes. Historically it is well known as the species Fallopia japonica, however it is now thought to be better placed within the genus Reynoutria and has been renamed to R. japonica.
