Originally introduced in the United Kingdom as an ornamental plant in 1850, it has since spread rapidly, affecting land values, property values and the biodiversity of the areas that Japanese knotweed is located. The plant’s resilience, aggressive growth and ability to thrive in various environments makes it a formidable opponent to land owners, property owners, businesses and the community.

Japanese knotweed is a perennial plant, which in simple terms means that it lives for more than two years. The plant thrives between early spring and late summer when it will reach its peak growth. The plant doesn’t react well to the winter and during the first hard frost the plant will shed its leaves and become dormant until the following spring when the growth cycle will resume.