Knotweed lookalikes
By The JKL Team

Knotweed lookalikes

Looks like knotweed

Japanese knotweed has very distinctive characteristics, however it also has some imposters that look very similar.

Below are four plants that are often mistaken for knotweed, but first here’s the main characteristics to look for:

  • Large green shovel shaped leaves
  • A clear zig-zag leaf growth pattern is it’s most defining characteristic
  • Green stems with red mottled pattern

 

Knotweed leaves being held by hand

Plants that look similar to japanese knotweed

Russian vine has similar flowers to Japanese knotweed but the leaves are not shovel-shaped and smaller.
RUSSIAN VINE has similar flowers to Japanese knotweed but the leaves are not shovel-shaped and smaller.
Himalayan Honeysuckle has similar shaped leaves to Japanese knotweed but look cloesly and you'll notice they are more pointed at the tips. The flowers are also pinky-purple, unlike Japanese knotweeed's creamy-white flowers.
HIMALAYAN HONEYSUCKLE has similar shaped leaves to Japanese knotweed but look cloesly and you’ll notice they are more pointed at the tips. The flowers are also pinky-purple, unlike Japanese knotweeed’s creamy-white flowers.
Dogwood leaves look similar but the growth pattern does not match Japanese knotweed, zig-zag pattern. Certain Dogwood varieties have red stems which can appear similar to Japanese knotweed.
DOGWOOD leaves look similar but the growth pattern does not match Japanese knotweed, zig-zag pattern. Certain Dogwood varieties have red stems which can appear similar to Japanese knotweed.
Bindweed has similar shaped leaves but the growth patter is completely different to Japanese knotweed and the flowers, though white are much larger than the small clusters that grow on knotweed.
BINDWEED has similar shaped leaves but the growth patter is completely different to Japanese knotweed and the flowers, though white are much larger than the small clusters that grow on knotweed.

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Person holding a mobile phone with a picture of knotweed on the screen

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