We asked Hannah Hudson, founder of the Worldwide Japanese Knotweed Support Group to answer
commonly asked questions for battling Japanese Knotweed. Hannah started the Support Group in 2015, after
discovering that accurate data and up-to-date guidance was lacking in the U.S. compared with the United
Kingdom.

Invasive plants that produce fruits must be dealt with during the summer months before their fruits ripen. Otherwise, birds and other animals will spread the seeded berries into new areas, sometimes over great distances. The territory of an overwintering bird like our Northern Cardinal can be up to ten acres. Of course, birds that migrate in fall will spread seeds much farther. The issue with invasive plants is that they are displacing native vegetation essential for many wildlife species. Fruit-bearing invasives of concern include Japanese Barberry, Burning Bush, Autumn Olive, Mile-a-Minute vine, Wineberry, Porcelainberry and Oriental Bittersweet vine.