Sunday, September 4, 2016


Japanese Knotweed is a fact of life here in the Binghamton area of upstate New York.

Many say this plant, introduced to the United States around 1825, is "beautiful but deadly".  It is characterized as being one of the most invasive plants in the area I live in.  Its powerful roots can tear up concrete and its runners can grow upwards of 60 feet long.  It grows quickly, and can be almost impossible to eradicate.  Controlling it costs billions of dollars a year.

It is also said to be nutritious, as this blogger mentions.

It is in bloom now, and I'd like to share some pictures taken today with you.  I took these while exercise walking (well, slowly exercise walking) with my spouse in Otsiningo Park, in the northern part of Binghamton, New York.

There's one more thing about this plant in bloom.  When you walk up to one of these plants, you hear a hum.  A loud hum.

A hum of bees.  I have read that honeybees love these blooms.

A silver lining in the invasive cloud?  Perhaps, if there was an election where knotweed was running, only the bees would vote for it.

Pretty, but destructive.  I bring you:
Knotweed flowers.

Goldenrod and knotweed make an awesome honey.

One of many clumps of knotweed in bloom.
Knotweed reflected in sunshine.
I couldn't resist taking a photo near the Chenango River, which flows through the park.
May your day be as sunny as this day was for us.


  1. With news of diminishing numbers of honey bees this weed could be a blessing in disguise!

    1. We can only hope that the increasing numbers of deaths of honeybees can be reversed.

  2. Invasive species... I remember seeing something about an invasive fish species. It's too bad. Man bringing things in before we realized that it's best not to mess with the local flora and fauna.

    1. There are invasive aquatic species, too, as you point out (tiger mussels come to mind). We never do seem to learn from our mistakes.

  3. Although it is an invasive plant, it is quite pretty!

  4. The knotweed is beautiful. Your photos capture their beauty.

