Help identifying plant/weed/bamboo?

QTPie

Sorry, no photo, maybe tomorrow.

We moved into a house in March. In one of the beds was a "stalky shrub/bamboo" looking plant:
- in March they were maybe 4ft tall.
- quite broad, fairly round in proportion, lacy leaves. Stalks think but hollow.
- some old, dead, hollow stalks, dark in colour, very easy to pull (dead ones have no roots).
- in the Summer the plants grew a "grass like" seedy top (bad description, but looked more like grass than flowers).
- now, September, they are 6ft/7ft tall and appear to be dying (stalks drying out, leaves dying and turning yellow then dark and crispy).
- the clusters appear to be creeping a bit along the bed.

Any idea what it is? Have had a good look around the internet, but can't find anything vaguely similar.

I have a feeling that I should probably be doing something to contain/control it...

I_have_spoken

Japanese Knotweed?

martinthebandit

http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/identify?name=&plant_typeid=9&flower_colourid=14&flower_shapeid=148&foliage_typeid=3&foliage_colourid=&foliage_textureid=&heightid=4&spreadid=3&fragranceid=0&plant_habitid=&select_submit_x=41&select_submit_y=14&testimonial_banner[site_testimonialid]=100&testimonial_banner[review]=I%20am%20utterly%20addicted.%20Recommending%20Shoot%20to%20everyone.%20&testimonial_banner[name]=CD&testimonial_banner[from]=Loanhead&testimonial_banner[link]=&testimonial_banner[asset_imgid]=38040&testimonial_banner[timestamp]=2010-06-08%2011:28:03&testimonial_banner[directory]=/testimonial/&testimonial_banner[filename]=testimonial_shoot_20111108132326.jpg

Stick as much info as you can in there and it should get you some results to do further searches on

QTPie

No, not Japanese Knotweed, thank god (I have already read up on that in case...)

Martin, that selector doesn't seem to work very well for me. Will try again, but seems to bring up "Dahlias" if I refine by Bamboo ?!?

Elsewhere

LOL, maybe cannabis?

QTPie

Ha ha, no, nothing so lucrative (will try to upload a photo)

QTPie

Here we go



Not the best photo - I have already cut the taller, dying stems back.

Davesnave

Macleaya cordata. Nice plant.

Knowing whereabouts you are, I may even have sold it to your predecessor! :rotfl:

It is invasive, but I still grow it. It's in my 'thug bed,' where plants like this get to fight with others their own size.

QTPie

Thank you Dave!

Completely right: good to know - I will keep an eye on its "creep".

It is next to a thuggish Wysteria and a few other less thuggish things.

We are now right at the top of the hill above where you used to be (just above Primrose Hill Woods). Not sure who planted it: the previous owners (who have been here since 2006) of the ones before that. Nice garden, but currently trying to get to know it (and evict a mole ).

QTPie

How far down the stem do you prune it?

Davesnave

You cut it to ground level in the autumn. Yours looks well-contained between a wall and a path anyway.

Nice spot where you are now, though the microclimate will likely be a little harsher. Mine's very different: free-draining soil, 500' up and over 5 acres to play with...... wouldn't swap back again, despite the 20 mile drive to decent shopping!