Mystery bush

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by dustymom, Sep 6, 2012.

  1. dustymom

    dustymom Active Member

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    A friend gave me a piece of this spreading bush a few years ago. It's in a bird feeder garden, and has avoided being eaten by the visiting deer and other critters.
    The picture is a new small bush that just came up this year from the main roots.
    The leaves are thick and leathery, and it usually flowers in July. For some reason, it's just flowering now (medium pink flowers).
    I want to give some of it away for a charity plant sale, and it would be good to have it identified.

    Any ideas?
     

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  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    One of the knotweeds (Fallopia, Polygonum, Reynoutria). The larger perennial types such as this appears to be tend to spread and persist, you should observe it longer before dispersing it.
     
  3. dustymom

    dustymom Active Member

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    Thanks Ron.
    I can't find any pictures that match my plant. It certainly does spread (a major concern), but the flowers are much pinker than they show in the picture, and are closer to persicaria flowers (which have also been called polygonum). The mature branches are only about 18" - 24" at most.

    I've seen what appeared to be a variegated form of the plant sold in a nursery.
    Maybe mine is a mutant????
     
  4. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Yes, I left Persicaria off the list by mistake. There was a change proposed so you will often find any one kind included within more than one genus.
     
  5. dustymom

    dustymom Active Member

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    The problem is, I still can't find anything online that matches it. I have Persicaria 'Painter's Palette' and the annual Persicaria orientalis, and their leaves are much thinner and softer.
    I may cut off a branch and take it to the nursery that was selling the variegated form.
    Polygonum are supposed to have hollow stems.
    I will not be defeated!
     
  6. Andrey Zharkikh

    Andrey Zharkikh Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    There is an old cut stem in the photo and it is hollow.
     
  7. dustymom

    dustymom Active Member

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    You're very observant, Andrey.
    The hollow stems in the picture are actually dead catnip stems that weren't pulled out.
    However, I cut off a stem this morning and it is slightly hollow, as they are in many plants.
    I've attached some clearer pictures.
    None of the Google images for knotweed or Polygonum match this plant, but it certainly seems to be in the same family.
     

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  8. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Resembles Fallopia japonica var. compacta.
     
  9. dustymom

    dustymom Active Member

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    Thanks Ron,
    It does resemble that. The flowers might be a little bit different -- hard to see.

    I found the name of the variegated plant at the nursery that looked like mine - Polygonum filiforme Variegatum.
    I have no idea what its flowers are like.
    Thanks to your suggestion, I found a UK site about knotweed identification. You can send them pictures to identify the plant, and their business is to eradicate or confine it. It's a little frightening!
    http://www.japaneseknotweed.co.uk/jk-identify.php
     
  10. GreenLarry

    GreenLarry Active Member 10 Years

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    Definitely Polygonaceae! Looks like it could get invasive like Knotweed
     
  11. dustymom

    dustymom Active Member

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    How right you are. It behaved quite well for 6 years, but this year 5 new bushes appeared in the lawn about 6-8 feet from the edge of the garden.
    There are so many types of polygonum, and they have sneaky cousins.

    I still like it, but I also liked the Oregon grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium) that finally took over a garden.
    They can be so seductive.
     

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