Japanese __, perennial plant (8)
![Ross](/clue/static/ross-mug.min.png)
I believe the answer is:
knotweed
(Other definitions for knotweed that I've seen before include "Common plant of dock family" , "Japanese invasive plant species" , "Plant of Polygonum genus" , "it has swollen joints" , "Common plant with jointed creeping stems" .)