NOT Japanese Knotweed

Soontobegran

About to put my house on market, but Japanese Knotweed has come up on survey on the wreck of a house next door. I know for sure it’s Himalayan Honeysuckle. What’s the best way to prove that? 

user1977

Sorry, whose survey are you talking about - one for your house or one you've seen for next door?

Van_Girl

Book your own knotweed survey? There will be a fee, but they can rule it out

Brewerspride

Have you got any photos of the Himalayan Honeysuckle in flower?  It has a completely different flower to JK so could help you show which plant it is.

The stems of my HH remain several feet tall in winter whereas, as far as I know, JK dies back in winter.  Could this be another way for you to prove which plant is in your neighbours garden?

Soontobegran

The survey was done on next door and I’ve been told about it. It’s complicated in that the guy who made an offer on next door cleared that part of the garden, before signing anything, so chopped the Himalayan Honeysuckle down. Then he was refused a mortgage on it! I suppose you can see it hasn’t actually died down, but has been cut back. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of the plant in flower. 

There IS Japanese Knotweed in the area, which is what the estate agent for next door told me had come up in the survey, but it’s about a dozen streets away. However, everyone viewing next door has been told the plant in next door’s garden is JK. 

The flowers ARE completely different.

user1977

I suspect there's not much you can do except wait to see if a buyer's survey refers to it. You probably don't want to jump up and down being overly-defensive about the not-JK next door, that might just arouse suspicion...

Flugelhorn

Awful plant HH but looks v different

Soontobegran

Thanks all. I suspected this would be a friendly and helpful place and that’s been proved to be the case.

juliedee4663

Are you sure that the survey didn't find Japanese Knotweed as well. If it is in the area and the garden has been neglected there is every chance that both plants could be present.

Soontobegran

Every potential buyer, plus agent, has been looking at a particular plant, one with hollow stems, but I know it’s Himalayan Honeysuckle because of the distinctive flowers. There’s nothing else at all similar in the garden, so yes, I’m sure. Thanks for the thought though.