On 10/26/11 10:54 AM, Blackfingers wrote:
Hello everyone, nice to be here.

I think I have some Japanese Knotweed but am not sure.
I have been googling images of it but it's not quite the same as what it
in my garden.

The stems are red, a very deep red with no other colour or shading
whatsoever. They are not bamboo like (no line around the stem where
each leaf stems off), where the leaves appear it's smooth and
uninterrupted along the entire length. The stems are more woody,
sapling-like and not hollow.

It has not flowered at all.

The leaves are heart shaped and quite large, but are now taking on the
weathered and damaged appearance of a dock leaf.

I spotted this plant several months ago and is has not grown much at all
since.

It's longest stem is about 4ft.

I would post a pic but it's dark now.

Any clues anyone?

Your description sounds like Persicaria capitata, which is also commonly
called a knotweed and used to be classified as Polygonum capitatum.
Another common name is pink clover although the leaves are not
clover-like at all; this name comes from flowers, which resemble pink
versions of white clover.

It does look forlorn as the weather gets cold but does not get truly
dormant until the temperature drops below freezing. The plant itself
(stems and roots) should be hardy to about 15F. In cold weather (above
freezing), the leaves turn red; they will return to green in the spring.

P. capitata can be quite drought tolerant, but it will accept regular
watering. It is also tolerant of part-shade although it does best in
full sun except in the hotest climates.

My front lawn and my rose bed in back are planted with P. capitata. It
forms a dense mat about 2-4 inches thick, so dense that very few weeds
will grow in it. I need to trim the edges of where it grows about 2-3
times a year.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary