OTTERHEAD'S BOHEMIAN KNOTWEED

Identified several years ago as the Bohemian Knotweed (Fallopia x bohemica), a hybrid between the Giant Knotweed and the Japanese Knotweed, this, too, was a plant deliberately planted at Otterhead for ornamental purposes.

The flowers in late summer are striking and there is a quite spectacular autumn foliage display. Many other plants have striking flowers and autumn displays that are not invasive as this knotweed tends to be in many places but not at Otterhead.

Surprisingly, despite seventy years of neglect only one planting of a knotweed, Himalayan Knotweed, at Otterhead is exhibiting the tendencies for which knotweeds are justifiably notorious. 

Although quite spectacular, the flowering season is much shorter than that of the Himalayan Knotweed.

It is believed that there are no specimens of the notorious Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) at Otterhead. Plants pointed out by visitors have so far been bamboo or the Bohemian and Himalayan knotweeds.