Japanese Knotweed - Reynoutria japonica
Japanese Knotweed looks spectacular but is extremely invasive and is typically found on roadsides, railway banks, waste ground and similar areas, especially in urban and suburban landscapes. This has mostly been eradicated from the UK as it can cause structural damage to houses and its spread can be difficult to stop.
These can grow metres high with bamboo like characteristics, stems are sometimes red-brown but are often green and smooth. This plant is edible and can be used as a substitute to rhubarb for making crumbles, pies, sorbets and used both in sweet and savoury dishes.
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Buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica
The berries and leaves are poisonous on this plant for humans and other animals, but it is a favourite amongst birds. The toxins cause stomach cramps and they have laxative like properties.
Buckthorn is a deciduous shrub or small tree, with grey-brown bark and thorny branches, green-yellow flowers and broad elliptic to oval leaves.
This plant can be confused with Cornus sanguinea, common dogwood.
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Privet, Ligustrum ovalifolium
A small evergreen tree or bushy shrub with broadly oval, glossy leaves.
It is commonly used as hedging. Small white fragrant flowers in pointed clusters appear in summer and early autumn attracting pollinators.
Then come mid-late autumn round black berry fruits are formed.
The berry is highly toxic and should be avoided.
Wolfsbane - Aconitum variegatum
Most species of Aconitum are extremely poisonous like this one also known by other names such as Monkshood, Devils Helmet or Blue Rocket. It is a herbaceous perennial native to the northern hemisphere growing in meadows and well-draining soils. This plant contains highly toxic aconitine in their roots and even the smallest quantity consumed can lead to death. Although the flower looks appealing this should be left alone.