ID please - Japanese Knotweed-like plant

[aspidistra]

This plant has appeared at the end of my garden - it's at least 7 feet tall and looks very like Japanese Knotweed, although I can't see any red tinge on the stems. Also the leaves are growing in direct pairs, rather than off set which is how they seem to be growing in all the pictures I've found online.

Is it Japanese Knotweed or something less scary? Do I need to move house???

[KeenTeen17]

I'm not sure what it is but its definitely not Japanese Knotweed. Don't worry

[aspidistra]

Phew - it looks similar though - thanks!

Anyone any ideas what it is? It seems to have shot up out of nowhere!

[JennyS]

Leycesteria formosa maybe? Known as Pheasant's Berry or Himalayan Honeysuckle

[Tursiops2]

Not sure what it is, but it's not Japweed . It looks a bit Sunflower-ish; possibly Jerusalem Artichoke, a relative of Sunflower?
T2

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by JennyS

Leycesteria formosa maybe? Known as Pheasant's Berry or Himalayan Honeysuckle

Looking at the habit and the shape of the leaves, I'd say Jenny's right; Himalayan Honeysuckle, Leycesteria formosa

It's a rather attractive plant in flower, but does spread like wildfire; we've got a lot of it in the Bristol area and seedlings spring up out of the slightest crack. In parts of Somerset, it's spread so fast as to become invasive

[ceterach]

If that is Leycesteria formosa then wow you have a fertile garden. I must admit I agree with T2, it looks more like Jerusalem Artichoke to me.

All the best

[aspidistra]

It does look like both of those. I can't see any purple tinging on the leaf stalks and from where it is growing I think it's more likely to be Jerusalem Artichoke. We have an wild area at the end of our garden, behind a hedge and the plant has turned up out of the blue under a huge sycamore tree so I wouldn't think the soil is particularly fertile or the conditions overly welcoming! When I came out of work tonight there was a plant that looks very similar forming part of the hedge alongside the entranceway - very strange!

I guess I should wait for it to flower to be sure. I'm just so relieved that it's not JKW Thank you everyone!

[JoulesH]

Don't think it's jerusalem artichoke(or JKW either) jerusalem arti has quite rough leaves, more elongated and they are serrated at the edges. Easiest way to check - has it grown from tubers that look at bit like root ginger? Jer arti will also have small sunflower-like flowers in the next month or so.

[aspidistra]

Thanks - unfortunately I can't get to the base as it's surrounded by a huge mound of brambles. It's not showing any signs of flowering yet - I keep checking. The mystery continues!