At the end of the 19th century, the first seeds of the climbing knotweed (Fallopia baldschuanica), also known as Chinese knotweed, reached Europe. The extremely vigorous climbing plant quickly became at home here and has even become a nuisance in some regions - due to the equally strong root growth, the knotweed is difficult to combat. It is also called "architect's consolation" because it transforms facades, buildings, walls or fences into a green oasis in no time at all. However, the plant is not the first choice for balcony greening.
Due to its enormous growth, knotweed is better not kept on the balcony
Why knotweed is not suitable for balcony greening
At first glance, the knotweed seems to be the perfect choice for greening the balcony - for example as a privacy screen. The plant grows quickly and offers wonderful protection from prying eyes thanks to its dense foliage. In addition, it thrives even in partially shaded or even shady places and is therefore even suitable for locations in unfavorable locations. But it is better not to choose knotweed for balcony planting, because you will find it difficult to control its extreme growth - it will be particularly difficult if you do not live on the ground floor, but higher up and may have to remove foothills from gutters or even from the roof.
Strong root growth
In addition, the knotweed not only grows very strongly above ground, but also underground: Planted out in the garden, its roots can reach several meters deep, they are also very wide and finely branched. For this reason, keeping a bucket is only successful if the buckets are big enough and they are properly cared for - as a rule, however, the plant will not feel particularly comfortable in a planter.
Pros and cons of knotweed
In the table below we have clearly compared the most important advantages and disadvantages of planting knotweed - not only on the balcony.
| benefits | disadvantage |
|---|---|
| very fast growth | tends to proliferate |
| opaque foliage | strong growth is difficult to curb |
| lush bloom | Shoots have strong destructive power |
| long flowering period | makes a lot of dirt, especially in the flowering period |
| pretty tough | can only be removed with difficulty |
| also thrives in partial shade or shade | Wraps grids, pipes, etc. extremely tight |
| sheds leaves very late | is deciduous |
| can be cut down to the ground | needs a lot of care as a container plant |
tips and tricks
If you decide to green your balcony with knotweed, make sure that the very thirsty plant has sufficient water supply. However, waterlogging must be avoided at all costs.