Help needed - is this plant harmful?

[rainbowthunder]

Hi, please can anyone help me identify this plant/bush/weed and advise as to whether it is invasive and could cause any damage. On the photo from further back it's the bush to the left of the tree trunk.

I really hate to say this and I'm not an expert so I'm hoping more people come along who really know, but it looks like Japanese Knotweed.
If it's is it's as serious as it gets and you probably need professional advice. Is it coming in from next door? So sorry @rainbowthunder .

What's behind the fence? Waste ground?

That is a cornus.

I'd say no. Not knotweed.

Agree with dogwood.

Have a look at Dogwoods, they are often planted as hardy garden shrubs but can be mistaken for knotweed. TBH I would expect Japanese knotweed to be more verdant and far taller (think six foot plus) and striking out in every single direction at this point in the summer.

Try a plant identifier app like Picture This. It's free and you just take a photo of a leaf and the app identifies it.

Ah OK thank goodness and apologies if I scared the bejazers out of you OP!
Perfectly happy to be wrong.

Dogwood agreed

Thanks for messages so far. Behind the fence is waste ground. The bush is smaller than it would have been but I trimmed it in the spring.

Also, here is a picture of a nearby bush I cut down - is this the same? And also a couple of similar small shoots coming straight oit of the ground. Are these the same?
If it is Dogwood I assume they are harmless and I can allow to grow?

You can cut cornus down to the ground, it is a common enough hedge plant and will grow back well enough. Or you can leave it and then cut it down when it gets too big. If it has self seeded and if you don't want small ones growing then you might want to dig them out as you see them. It is ok with pretty rough treatment.

I'd go as far as to say it's Cornus 'Midwinter Fire', which as much as I love it does sucker - a lot!

There are websites you can upload a photo of your plant if there's any worry it's JK and they will assess and let you know (for free.)

It's not knotweed. Where the leaves join the stem makes a zigzag pattern; they aren't in pairs as OP's plant's are.

Agree with Cornus.

Definitely not JK
I'd agree Cornus or possibly Philadelphus. But there was also an ash seedling behind it in pics

Stems aren't the right colour are they?

They’re ‘harmless’ and the stems can provide winter colour but they can get out of hand if you don’t prune them pretty ruthlessly in spring. I’ve got some which are frankly monsters!

Yes, it is a cornus, and probably the native dogwood, Cornus sanguinea.

Hard to tell with the leaves on. It's certainly yellow at the base like MWF.

Thank you everyone for your messages - there seems to be quite a bit of agreement that it isn't japanese knotweed so I feel happier.