The message
from "Justin Burnett" contains these words:


Ahh, that's a lot better. I think it's Polygonum persicaria... A quick
websearch for that has brought up this page:
http://www.hawriverprogram.org/NCPla...aria_page.html

It's a fairly common weed, bit it's quite a charming plant.


Yes that looks like the one to me. The site says "The plant grows in moist
areas of waste ground and disturbed sites." Should be quite at home then. I
think I'll thin them out before they take over. As colin says they are
charming so I'll keep a few.

Many Thanks to all who took the trouble to help out.

Jus

There is another similar Polygonum weed called Polygonum amphibium or
amphibious bistort. I have it in several places in my garden and find it
impossible to get rid of. The roots go down very deep and you never get
to the end of them. It seems to grow where land is or has been damp,
e.g. fens, but I'm not sure how widespread it is.
It's my pet hate and yet I've never come across anyone else who is
troubled by it.

However, I think yours probably is redshank rather than amphibious
bistort (which also grows in ponds), but you could see how far down your
roots go.

Janet G