Urgent warning to gardeners about popular plant that is 'as invasive as Japanese knotweed'

Environment Controls has warned that the buddleia plant, known as the butterfly bush, is highly invasive and can cause 'severe damage' to buildings and is as dangerous as the well-known Japanese knotweed

Buddleia, known for its gorgeous purple flowers and delightful scent, is a common sight in British gardens. Often referred to as the butterfly bush, it's a magnet for pollinators thanks to its nectar-laden blossoms.

Yet, many green-fingered enthusiasts don't realise that this plant can be a real menace, capable of causing "severe damage" to structures. Jennifer Holmes from Environment Controls has issued a warning, stating buddleia is just as "difficult to control or eradicate" as the notorious Japanese knotweed.

Japanese knotweed, a notorious invasive species, finds itself on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. It's illegal under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to let this plant spread or grow in the wild. This formidable invader expands quickly via an underground network of rhizomes, with stems that can soar to an impressive 7ft. It's also known to worm its way into cracks in pavements and wreak havoc on infrastructure such as drainage systems and other utilities like pits, cables, and water pipes, according to a report by the Mirror, reports the Daily Record.

Buddleia shares the invasive qualities of Japanese knotweed but spreads differently. Instead of subterranean roots, buddleia's seeds take to the air, finding new homes in the nooks and crannies of buildings where they sprout with ease. This favourite among garden plants can shoot up to a towering 15 feet and is equipped with a fibrous root system that's adept at breaking through the soil's top layer. While Buddleia hasn't been officially marked as a detrimental species akin to Japanese knotweed, it's still wreaking havoc across the UK, with the cost of damages to properties hitting an estimated £1 million mark.

Jennifer said: "While both buddleia and knotweed can cause significant harm to building structures, buddleia is less likely to affect underground infrastructure due to its shallow root system. However, buddleia is extremely invasive and difficult to eliminate. Unlike knotweed, it can grow in hard-to-reach areas like roofs, guttering, window sills, and walls-essentially anywhere a seed lands, it can thrive. Knotweed, on the other hand, needs its roots to be in the ground to establish itself."

Legal experts have highlighted both as "problematic species" confessing they're "equally difficult to control or get rid of". But those grappling with these green menaces can take heart: getting rid of them is feasible through either chemical treatments or digging them out. In case of a floricultural invasion, it's prudent to engage specialists capable of banishing them once and for all.