Knotweed is a genus that includes about 300 species of annual and perennial herbs, shrubs and even vines.

In nature, it is found in grasslands, forests, highlands and near bodies of water around the world. Of this diversity, only 20 varieties are used to decorate the garden.

The culture has a strongly creeping rhizome and erect, prostrate or curly geniculate stems with alternately arranged simple lanceolate-ovate leaves.

Small flowers are organized into racemes or paniculate inflorescences, on which nut-shaped fruits with many seeds are formed.

Species variability

Among the varieties of this plant that have taken root in our area, the first to be used in culture were the related knotweed, which came to us from Nepal, and the double-twisted (snake) species.

Later they were introduced different kinds from Far East Asia. For example, it gained particular popularity alpine knotweed(photo 1), the bush of which can grow up to one and a half meters in height. It has many branched stems and lanceolate-ovate leaves.

Powerful thickets are also formed by unpretentious species: the variable and Weiricha (photo 2), growing up to two meters, as well as the almost three-meter Sakhalin variety.

The perennial viviparous mountaineer will be somewhat smaller - up to half a meter tall. The height of the related knotweed varies between 20-25 cm, and the capitate (photo 3) spreads along the ground and grows up to 10-15 cm.

Features of cultivation

Among the few requirements of the knotweed for its growing location are a moderately moist area in partial shade and non-acidic soil. Waterlogging of the soil (especially for the related knotweed and splayed grass) is undesirable, although the snake species can develop when groundwater is close to the groundwater.

Highlander is very resistant to drought and can winter without shelter, so it is considered one of the most unpretentious cultivated plants. However, such unpretentiousness can even turn it into a weed, since aggressive growth disrupts and displaces less powerful representatives of the flora on the site.

All of these ground cover plants reproduce by division and root suckers, and some also by seeds. In one place, a rapidly growing crop can grow for 6-10 years, and easily tolerates replanting along with a clod of earth.

Immediately after winter, the appearance of the bush may not be very decorative, but you should not prune old shoots. Pretty soon narrow oblong leaves appear on them, and in May pink flowering candles appear. The crop reaches its peak of decorative value in early June, when the inflorescences change from pale pink to red, and then completely burgundy until frost.

Use in design

Some types of knotweed, especially alpine, are used for decoration

Monumental, long and beautifully blooming, attracting bees to the garden, unpretentious, winter-hardy and not at all aggressive - just a fairy tale, not a mountaineer!

1. Botanists are still debating which of the three related genera it belongs to: Polygonum, Aconogonum or Persicaria. The most common name is Polygonum polymorphum. In German nurseries it can also be found under the name Aconogonum x fennicum Johanniswolke. There are no discrepancies in the Russian language - the mountaineer is changeable.

2. This giant occupies a width slightly less than its height - 1.5 - 2 m, and even more when in flower. Thanks to its size, rapid growth and long flowering, the changeable knotweed is an accent in the flower garden all season long.

3. It does not require garter: the hollow stems, reaching up to 3 cm in diameter at the base, are very strong and do not fall over neighboring plants. In the upper part they are highly branched. The bush is vase-shaped, leafy from top to bottom.

4. Inflorescences are branched fluffy panicles of small creamy white flowers that appear in June. Over time, they turn pink, and by the end of flowering in the fall they turn brown. This color change works to our advantage, because towards the end of summer there are usually more warm tones in mixborders. The inflorescences can be used for cutting.

5. Polygonum flowers have a strong aroma and there are always a lot of bees on them. Most people find this scent reminiscent of honey with hints of vanilla, but some find it too strong and unpleasant.

6. Variable knotweed is not aggressive: unlike Sakhalin knotweed, it grows as a bush, without spreading rhizomes. They are powerful, but not too deep into the ground - up to 30 cm.

7. This highlander grows well on any soil in different conditions - I have seen it in gardens and near ponds, and in the vicinity of birch trees. Moisture-absorbing soils with good drainage are optimal, but a rooted bush tolerates both drought and excess moisture. Where water stagnates or in too dry conditions, the height of the bush will be lower. Prefers sunny places, but can also grow in partial shade where the bush is taller.

8. Variable knotweed will fit into the background of both traditional English mixborders and modern natural flower beds, and will become an accent in a “white” garden. It goes well with the whole range of “new perennials”, including cereals. Good in a nuanced composition with lower, spreading knotweed. Its fast growth and large green mass allow it to be used as a “summer” hedge.

An unpretentious and spectacular plant is the Sakhalin knotweed, which belongs to the genus Polygonum and has been known in cultivation for a long time, since the mid-19th century. But many people are still not familiar with this giant herbaceous perennial. Its distinctive feature, which led to its introduction into culture, is its rapid growth, which is why it was nicknamed Siberian bamboo. In a short time, the knotweed can reach a height of three meters and form dense thickets, behind which you can hide an unsightly building or a neighbor’s fence.

Figure 1. Sakhalin knotweed is a noble and unpretentious plant, capable of decorating any area.

The leaves of this plant are spectacular: dark green on top and pubescent below, oval in shape with a sharp tip, they reach a length of 30 cm. And by the end of summer, clusters of creamy-white flowers with a faint honey aroma appear on the tops of the shoots. Rice. 1. In winter, bare geniculate stems up to 3 cm thick protrude from the snow, resembling real bamboo.

How to care for the Sakhalin knotweed?

A newcomer from the south of Sakhalin and the Japanese Islands, the mountaineer, however, does not like extreme heat. Its natural habitats are wet ravines and stream beds. Therefore, when choosing a place to plant Siberian bamboo, one must take into account its tendency to high soil and air humidity. Suitable place in the garden, the shore of a reservoir, the surroundings of a stream passing through the area, or a damp lowland can become a place for giant grass.

With a lack of sunlight, the leaves of the Sakhalin knotweed will be small.

The lighting requirements of the Sakhalin knotweed are quite moderate: it can grow in bright sunlight, in partial shade, and even on the north side of a building. With a lack of light, its leaves will be slightly smaller and the inflorescences will not be as lush. And he is unlikely to reach his normal size. But in a place with sufficient or excess lighting, the giant will look great.

This plant is very demanding of soil fertility. In places where Sakhalin knotweed grows naturally, the soil is saturated with the remains of rotted plant parts and nutrients. The composition of these soils is close to the leaf soil of Russian broad-leaved forests. To achieve the full flowering of the knotweed, the plant must be fed with herbal compost, rotted manure, and watered abundantly. Planted near a compost heap, Siberian bamboo usually feels great and gives neighbors reason to wonder what kind of strange plant has appeared on the site.

For the winter, the mountaineer does not require shelter and tolerates low temperatures well even in the Siberian region.

Early growing green shoots may freeze during frosts. But even the completely dead above-ground part grows back with the onset of warm days.

Reproduction of Sakhalin buckwheat

Sakhalin knotweed easily tolerates low temperatures and does not require shelter in winter.

Knotweed seeds are similar to unhusked seeds buckwheat. This is not surprising, because they are relatives. The seeds are sown in March or early April in loose, fertile soil. After about 2 weeks, sprouts will appear. There is no need to pick up knotweed seedlings, so it is best to immediately sow large seeds at a distance of 10 cm from each other or 1-2 pieces in peat pots.

During the growth of seedlings, it must be fed 2-3 times with a complex fertilizer such as “Kemira” or another, diluting it in water according to the instructions. Planting of seedlings can be done only after the threat of return frosts has passed, around the beginning of June. After this, plant care consists of timely watering and fertilizing 1-2 times per season with complex fertilizers or organic matter.

Due to the fact that Sakhalin knotweed blooms late, in most regions of Russia its seeds do not have time to fully ripen. Therefore, propagation is most often carried out vegetatively: by dividing the bush or by root suckers. With sufficient moisture, cuttings take root very quickly and during the first year of growth they can produce a significant amount of green mass. This feature makes the knotweed a convenient plant for creating curtains and hedges near transparent fences.

When planting knotweed on a site, you must remember that it is an aggressive weed that can penetrate its roots to a depth of 2 meters. That's why decorative planting must be fenced with limiters dug to the maximum possible depth. This can be sheet slate, plastic or similar materials that are resistant to destruction and corrosion.

Sakhalin knotweed leaves can be used as a pie filling.

The question is often asked about how to deal with Sakhalin knotweed if it gets out of control.

The population's complaints boil down to the fact that it is almost impossible to dig up the rhizomes of Siberian bamboo and the vine grows again in the area that has already been dug up. This is true.

The control method in the form of digging up the planting is ineffective for a simple reason: every small piece of rhizome that breaks off during weed control produces a new shoot. A loose soil contributes to its successful growth.

The correct way to destroy unnecessary growth is to mow or cut off the entire above-ground part of the plant as it grows, every 10=14 days. This inhibits the knotweed and does not allow it to accumulate enough nutrients in the rhizomes for a successful winter.

Use of knotweed for economic purposes

In addition to being exceptionally decorative, knotweed is considered a valuable vegetable plant. The population of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands eat young shoots and leaves of the plant. They have a pleasant sour taste and are very juicy. They can be used as a component of salads, for making soups or pie filling. The special cultural value of Sakhalin knotweed lies in the very early growth of young greenery. Comparable in taste and vitamin content to rhubarb and sorrel, Sakhalin knotweed is quite capable of replacing them when these plants are still dormant.

The large soft leaves of the plant are readily eaten by livestock, rabbits and birds. Just don’t overuse this vitamin food, as the high content of oxalic acid can adversely affect the kidney function of rabbits, goats and breeding cattle.

The green mass mowed during weed control can be fed to animals along with the stems. In the absence of livestock and poultry on the farm, immature soft stems with leaves make good compost. It is prepared in the usual way, but when using ready-made fertilizer, it may be necessary to add chalk or fluff lime to reduce its acidity. Mature stems from last year, which have to be cut in the spring, can serve as support for peas or similar plants. These hollow stems can be successfully used as the base for a warm bed. The porous layer will ensure a good flow of oxygen inside it.

Siberian bamboo, impressive in its power, has many faces. It can be a valuable addition to the diet of people and animals, an ornamental plant, and a nasty weed, like its relative, the alpine knotweed. Everything depends only on the attitude of the owner of the site to the beautiful creation of Far Eastern nature.

Variable knotweed - perennial herbaceous plant, a garden giant up to 2 meters high with a long lush flowering, filling the garden with a honey aroma.

The knotweed belongs to the extensive Buckwheat family. There are about 300 species in the genus Polygonum, 20 of which are used in cultivated floriculture. Among them there are low and tall herbaceous perennials, creeping and neat bushes, and even vines. Some species of knotweed can be quite aggressive. For example, Sakhalin knotweed, or Sakhalin buckwheat (Polygonum sachalinense), can easily turn your garden into tall impenetrable thickets.

However, the hero of today's publication is not like that. The changeable highlander, although it is a huge bush, however, its disposition is quite peaceful and not prone to aggression.

Polygonum polymorpha is one of the most interesting representatives of the genus for the gardener, native to East Asia. It is a luxurious bush up to 2 meters high, about 1.5 meters in diameter, and also has long-term (more than 2 months) flowering. Strong, thick shoots hold large inflorescences well and do not require garter. An airy white cloud of paniculate inflorescences fills the garden with a spicy honey aroma until mid-August. The knotweed bush does not lose its decorative appearance even after flowering; dried inflorescences remain on the plant until late autumn, and the shoots are painted in purple tones. If the dried panicles are cut off, the side shoots will begin to bloom.

Highlander is changeable. Growing and care

Variable knotweed prefers a sunny location, but also tolerates slight shade. It is undemanding to soils, but prefers moist, fertile soils with slight acidity.

Care consists of watering during dry periods and pruning in late autumn.

Variable knotweed can grow in one place, requiring replanting for up to 10 years. The plant is quite winter-hardy and does not need shelter in central Russia.

Propagated by division or root suckers in spring and cuttings or layering in summer.

Highlander in garden design

Variable knotweed is undoubtedly an architectural plant loved by landscape designers. Large perennials, unlike ornamental shrubs, are not always the same size. It is very interesting to observe how, in place of a clearing of low spring flowers, a wall of huge bushes gradually forms. There is some intrigue in this.

Polygonum can be used to decorate the background of a flower garden, decorate buildings, delimit the garden into zones, and decorate a pond. In any case, it will be good! But it is better to plant it solo, for example, on the lawn, then you and your guests will be able to plunge, as they say, headlong into the fragrant thickets, because the inflorescences are just at the height of human growth. For the same reason, it is good to plant polygonum near a place to rest or under windows in the front garden.

You can combine variable knotweed with completely different plants - perennials, but you need to take into account the size of the giant. Neighbors must match it, if not in height, then at least in the volume of plantings, that is, for one knotweed bush you can choose several specimens of a less stately plant, for example, a milkflower bell, as neighbors. Also, changeable mountaineer will be good in combination with decorative cereals, veronicastrum, geraniums, echinaceas, etc.

Botanists around the world have not yet come to a consensus on what Latin name to assign to this plant as a generic name. In various publications, the mountaineer from the Buckwheat family is called Persicaria, Reynotria, Fallopia, Tovara, most often Polygonum. The last name comes from the Greek “polys” - many, “gonos” - knee, this term is assigned to the plant for its geniculate, knotty stem.

There are approximately 300 species of knotweed. More often it is herbaceous, a single plant, less often or a subshrub. Knotweed has spread widely across the globe, growing in forests, river banks, meadows and highlands.

The stems of the knotweed are either prostrate or erect, occasionally curly. The leaves are alternate, simple. Small flowers are collected in racemes or paniculate inflorescences. The fruit is a nut with many seeds.

The knotweed is interesting due to its surprisingly diverse species and prevalence under a wide variety of conditions. natural conditions. You may encounter it on the street in a village in the form of ant grass, or it can create three-meter thickets of Sakhalin buckwheat. It grows modestly near swamps and lakes, or can proudly stretch out as a 15-meter vine that quickly entwines buildings, hedges, and trees growing in the neighborhood.

About 20 species of this amazing plant are used in decoration. It is quite unpretentious, grows successfully in different zones, tolerates pruning well and maintains its decorative appearance all season long.

Ornamental types of knotweed

Alpine knotweed

Ayansky knotweed

Ajan knotweed (Aconogonon ajanense) grows in Japan, Siberia, the Far East, and China. It can be seen on gravelly screes, rocky slopes in the subalpine and alpine mountain belts.

Ayan knotweed is a perennial plant, grows up to 40 cm. The stem of knotweed is erect, with spreading branches, covered with short hairs, sometimes with the addition of long hairs. The leaves are elliptical, pointed, broadly wedge-shaped at the base. They grow on short petioles, can be hairy, sometimes glabrous. The flowers form clusters located at the tops of the branches and the main stem.

Perianths are pinkish or white.

Knotweed lingonberry

Capitate knotweed

Capitate knotweed (Polygonum capilatum) is little known, however, it is a very elegant annual plant that has a rare quality among annual plants - it can quickly cover the soil.

Capitate knotweed is thermophilic, grows well in sunny places, loves moisture. In partial shade, the color of the leaves becomes less decorative.

The knotweed branches abundantly, spreads, and grows up to 15 cm. The leaves of the capitate knotweed are medium-sized, with reddish stripes and spots. The inflorescences are small, round, collected from small light pink flowers located above the leaves. Highlander is decorative from June until.

Capitate knotweed reproduces well by seeds and cuttings. Sow the seeds in March. After 10-14 days, shoots will appear. IN open ground It is better to plant in early June, spacing the sprouts 15-20 cm apart. When the soil dries out, water. During the growth period, feed the plant 2-3 times.

You can form a beautiful one from the knotweed, as it tolerates pruning well.

You can also plant it in an empty space in a mixborder, in a garden vase, from where the shoots will hang beautifully.

Highlander changeable

Variable knotweed (Polygonum polymorpha) is native to East Asia. This is a very unusual plant. Variable knotweed is a large, luxurious perennial bush that grows up to 2 m. The stems of knotweed are straight, strong, hollow, and highly branched at the top. The root system is very powerful, going to a depth of 30 cm. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate. The inflorescences are huge, paniculate, complex, formed from small white flowers with a spicy aroma. Blooms fickle mountaineer in June and continues to bloom until mid-August. Fluffy panicles remain decorative for a long time.

The highlander is changeable and unpretentious; it does not need to be covered in winter; it grows well on any soil.

Highlander related

The related knotweed (Polygonum affine) is native to the Nepal Himalayas. This species is perennial, herbaceous, growing up to 25 cm. The stems of the knotweed are erect. The leaves are oval-lanceolate or oblong, evergreen. In dense spike-shaped inflorescences up to 10 cm long, the flowers are pale pink, small, and darken towards the end of flowering to a pinkish-red hue. The related knotweed remains decorative after flowering thanks to its fruits and leaves that acquire a dark red color.

Beautiful decorative varieties:

• Darieeling Red - with deep pink flowers -
• Donald Lowndes - with a pink-red tint of flowers.

The related knotweed prefers shady places, but grows well in full sun. Not picky about soils, just doesn’t like them to become acidic. If the areas are well drained, it develops well. It is drought-resistant and does not tolerate stagnant groundwater.

Frost-resistant, but does not tolerate snowless winters very well. For prevention, it is better to cover with coniferous spruce branches. Overwintered leaves need to be shaded in the spring.

Knotweed is excellent for ground cover groups, planting in wide rocky gardens. Can also be used for cutting and creating dry bouquets.

Decorative when decorating small coastal zones when planted next to low perennials and plants. The knotweed forms a dense green carpet; its elegant inflorescences go well with the medium-sized Virginia Tradescantia. It should be taken into account that, by growing strongly, knotweed can suppress species that are less hardy.

Highlander splayed

Spreading knotweed (Polygonum divaricatum) originated in Mongolia, China, and the Far East. This knotweed is perennial, has many stems up to one and a half meters high, with brownish bark. The leaves are lanceolate, the upper ones are up to 6 cm long, the lower ones are longer - up to 10 cm. The small flowers are whitish, collected in highly branched dense panicles. Due to its wide branching, the highlander received its name.

Sakhalin knotweed

Sakhalin knotweed (Polygonum sachalinense) is also called Sakhalin buckwheat. It grows respectively in the south of Sakhalin, and is also found in the Kuril Islands and Japan.

It is a herbaceous plant, perennial, with creeping roots. The stems of this mountaineer are hollow, straight, strong, up to 3 m, brown or green in color. The foliage is large, the leaf blade is about 20 cm wide and 30 cm long, broadly oval, on a short petiole. Whitish-cream flowers small size form 20-centimeter paniculate inflorescences. Sakhalin knotweed blooms in July. The fruit is a dark brown triangular nut.

Sakhalin knotweed is grown for decorating and camouflaging outbuildings and forming thickets. At the same time, keep in mind that it is growing rapidly, its development must be restrained, since the Sakhalin giant is capable of capturing large territories. Usually it is enough to dig limiters to a depth of 30 cm.

Knotweed

The mountain meadows of the Himalayas became the birthplace of the candle-shaped knotweed (Polygonum amplexicaule). It's bushy perennial has straight, tall stems (up to 1.2 m), wide lanceolate leaves that turn yellow in autumn. The decoration of the bush is bright spikelets-inflorescences that appear in mid-July and turn red until the end of summer. The rhizome of the knotweed is powerful, growing horizontally, developing slowly, and the bush grows quite compactly.

When you plant candle-shaped knotweed, deepen the rhizome buds 8-10 cm from the surface of the ground to protect them from freezing. In the fall, insulate the bush by covering it with earth and covering it with lutrasil.

Spectacular varieties of this mountaineer are used in decoration:

• Album - color of inflorescences is white -
• High Society - flowers -
• Roseum - accordingly has pink flowers -
• Jo and Guido's form - can “boast” of large beautiful flowers scarlet shade -
• Inverleith is a plant with bright red inflorescences.

Virginia knotweed

Virginia knotweed (Polygonum virginianum) is a very unusual and beautiful perennial. It has multi-colored foliage, for which it is valued in decorative landscaping. The greenish-white flowers appear late in the summer and do not add any significance.

To form bright decorative foliage, it is recommended to plant in sunny places, allowing light partial shade. It tolerates drought well, but it is better to keep the soil moist.

To achieve the greatest effect, it is better to plant in large groups.

Different varieties differ in foliage color:

• Lance Corpora - leaves are yellowish-green with rich red-brown spots in the center -
• Painter's Palette - variegated leaves, with black and red markings, white stripes. In late summer, airy stems with a large number of red beaded flowers appear, which adds spectacularity to the shrub.

Small-headed knotweed "Red Dragon"

Red Dragon knotweed (Persicaria microcephala "Red Dragon") originated in China. It is actively used in floriculture, as it is not aggressive, unlike its relatives, it grows slowly and does not form seeds.

The perennial plant grows up to 90 cm in height and width. Dark red shoots appear in early spring; heart-shaped, pointed, beautiful leaves of a plum-red color with a metallic sheen bloom on them. The foliage is velvety and looks impressive on red stems. In summer it becomes greener, while retaining the red edge and tricolor silver-green-brown coloring. On hot nights, the color of the leaves is not so bright and saturated. The flowers that bloom in August-September are small, white, and have no decorative value.

Polygonum is undemanding to conditions and soils, and even grows on heavy clay. Although it prefers moist soils, it can adapt well to dry conditions.

In winter, it is advisable to cover in severe frosts.

In ornamental gardening, it is good to plant in a group with plants with silver foliage and yellow flowers.

The recently grown variety "Silver Dragon" differs from the "Red Dragon" in having more silvery leaves with a red edge.

Japanese knotweed

Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum = Persicaria japonica), despite its name, came from East Asia. It is listed as a noxious weed in Washington State (USA).

There are 2 common varieties:

• Variegata. In spring, this variety has leaves with shoots of a bright coral color, slowly changing to green with many white spots that merge into entire sectors, all this gives it a fantastic look. Sometimes you get plants with creamy white leaves.

For good development of the bush, constant foliar feeding is required, since there is not enough chlorophyll. The bushes are stable, compact, and do not need to be tied up. Loves partial shade and good soil moisture. Over the summer it grows up to 120 cm, in winter the shoots die off completely.

• Japanese knotweed compact. It is distinguished by bright purple petioles, stems and leaf veins. The leaves of a young plant are purple, then turn green, leaving a crimson edging along the edge, which disappears closer to autumn. The compact knotweed looks beautiful during the flowering period: light coral flowers are then replaced by bright crimson fruit boxes.

Sakhalin knotweed (video)

Aubert's Highlander

The Aubert mountaineer (Polygonum aubertii) is native to Western China. This is a shrubby vine, low and climbing. The trunk becomes slightly woody, the shoots even less.

The leaves are ovate, with wavy edges, initially reddish, later bright green.

Numerous racemes formed in the upper part of the shoots consist of greenish-pale, sometimes pink, small flowers. Forms a fluffy blooming continuous wall. The fruits are inconspicuous, whitish, small.

Aubert's knotweed is propagated by seeds. It grows well in fertile, moderately moist soils and can grow in partial shade. In winter, during frosts, the above-ground part dies off, then quickly grows back.

In ornamental gardening, it is highly valued for its dense, bright green foliage; it is planted to create low hedges, and the lower part of walls is planted with knotweed.

Baljuan knotweed

Baldschuani knotweed (Polygonum baldschuanicum) is also called Baldschuan buckwheat. He came from Central Asia. This is a vine with stems growing up to 15 m.

Young shoots of knotweed are green, smooth, and become gray with age.

The broadly oval leaves are pointed, spear-shaped or heart-shaped at the base, light green. The white flowers have a pinkish-lilac tint, they are small in size, collected in fairly large paniculate inflorescences. Sometimes it blooms twice: in May-June and September-October.

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