Is this Japanese Knotweed?

Hi,
I would really appreciate your help...My cousin has just bought a house and found this creeping along her floorboards when she lifted the laminate flooring. It's coming in from under the bay window but the flower bed outside the bay window has been filled in with concrete in the last 18months (neighbour told her).
We're really worried but think if it is JK we have some legal redress as the seller didn't declare it when selling.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
thanks, Pam.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Pam. First appearance suggests it's not Japanese Knotweed. Knotweed tends to have a slight zigzag in the stems. See the picture below. However, if it's not Knotweed then it is obviously something invasive. Are there any leaves attached to help identify it?

The fact that the bed has been concreted in and it's appeared inside in the same area would suggest it is Knotweed but I can't be certain from the picture above. You need a positive identification and yes, it is illegal to sell a property without declaring it.

Do not cut the plant back, the more it's pruned the more it grows. It needs to be dealt with by a professional who will use a strong weed killer on it.

 

Many thanks for your replies. We've just found this coming out of the concrete and my gut feeling is that it's not knotweed?

 

Its not Knot weed, looks a bit like a fuschia from the pic.
But I doubt its anything to worry about.

 

Knotweed would have the appearance of dead hollow stems at this time of the year.
it is herbaceous, and dies back to the ground each winter.

 

Looks very like JK to me but hopefully I'm wrong. Often the stems have a reddish hue and are hollow. Does this fit what you have? It should be dying down/have died down by now but as it's been so mild and sheltered under the flooring maybe not. New shoots in the Spring are pinky/red. I'd try and find out from maybe neighbours if they have got it/had it being tactful! and ask if there might be a knowledgeable plants person in your area who could make a certain diagnosis. It's not the end of the world with strong enough weedkiller applied at the right time and reapplied if necessary the damned plant can be killed off but you have to keep at it to succeed.

 

Many thanks everyone. Much appreciated. We had an expert from Ness Gardens look at it and they say categorically it's a fuchsia. Considering your posts too, we're happy. Phew.

Thanks again,
Pam.

 

That's good news and now see what you were worried about, the photo I looked at was put up by Sheal and I mistook it for what you were talking about. No worries at all with what you've found. Glad you're sorted.

 

I saw this post and then watched a youtube video about japanese knotweed last night. Then had an awful dream about finding it everywhere in my garden. I should not be on the internet late at night.