Japanese Knotweed Fallopia Japonica is a rhizome based non-native invasive species that was introduced into the UK in the early nineteenth century by acclaimed botanist Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold.
Due to the attractive nature of the plant and to stabilise banking it was then widely planted for several decades after which its invasive and destructive nature had gained notoriety. It is believed that the current infestation of Japanese Knotweed can be sourced back to a handful of plants imported by Von Siebold. Every noted Japanese Knotweed plant in the UK is female.