What are invasive plants?
Aren’t plants good? Isn’t that why we garden? So why does our garden have a list of plants not allowed to plant in your garden?
The reason is that non-native invasive plant species pose an increasing threat to our natural ecosystems. Invasive plants are plants that have been introduced into an environment in which they did not evolve and so usually have no natural enemies to limit their reproduction. Many of these plants have escaped from gardens and landscapes where they were originally cultivated. These plants have the potential of taking over large areas, affecting native plants and animals and negatively changing local ecosystems.
The more we learn about invasive plants, the more we realize how difficult they are to control, much less eradicate. The obvious course of action is to avoid planting these species in the first place, this is why we have tried to deter in planting invasive plants.
Currently the garden prohibits these plants in the garden:
Raspberry – may be relocated to Orchard
Blackberry – may be relocated to Orchard
Cannabis (Marijuana)
All Mints ( available in the Community Herb Garden)
Morning Glories
Bamboo
Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
Ceanothus Bermuda
Datura/Brugmansia (Angel Trumpets)
Castor
Euphorbia lathers ( Gopher Spurge)
Ice plant
Pampas Grass
Japanese Honeysuckle
Papyrus
Mexican False Heather
Smoking Tobacco
Orange Honeysuckle
St. John’s Wort
Plumbago
Sugar Cane
Prickly Pear Cactus
Yucca
Horseradish
Wisteria
Palms
We all know what happens when we don’t weed our garden, mother nature does what is does best and starts blowing the seeds around to make new plants. Invasive plants can cause much more damage than creating more work for you weeding. The real harm including displacing native plants, altering soil chemistry so native plants can’t thrive and reduce biodiversity,
So, the next time you see an invasive plant or weed in your garden, pull it out to keep balancing our garden eco system.
Happy Gardening!
Mary Church