labeling 'invasives' at plant swaps, etc.

18 years ago

I just read the whole thread "perennials you wouldn't recommend". Obviously we've spent countless hours (sometimes years) trying to rid our beds and yards of these overbearing pests. Yet they turn up constantly at plant swaps or sales--because WE DON'T WANT THEM.

It kills me to see lily of the valley selling for $3.00 each in a tiny pot at the garden center when I'm busting my buns trying to get them out of my rock garden and they've already lifted part of my driveway. But they are perfectly nice plants if planted in the right place and people know what to expect.

Doesn't it seem only fair to provide a little information/warning along with the plants being offered to unsuspecting fellow gardeners at a swap? I know garden centers don't always note the invasive factor either, but they are not giving them away free, which diminishes the temptation to plant a bunch of problems.

Please don't get me wrong. I've never planted a "swap-problem", thanks to GW. The LOV were here when I moved in, lemonbalm was brought as a "gift" from my visiting sister, my daylily bulbs were given to me by a friend who got them from her neighbor, and the ivy I rip out yearly was something I really wanted and nurtured from a good friend and next door neighbor. Sandy (too late smart)

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Comments (10)

Aurore
18 years ago
As for the lemon balm I think Martha Stewart made lemonade from lemon balm. Sounds like you have enough for lemonade all summer long. As for the ivy here's my mantra, smother, smother, smother. Forget about weeding, just rake a big pile of leaves (tall enough so the plants don't grow through it) over the ivy. Of course this won't work if you have other plants you don't want kill growing amongst the ivy. Leave it covered for a long time. Vines are harder to kill because they will try to grow out from underneath the material you are using to smother them. Make sure everything is dead when you rake away the leaves. Even a tiny little bleached stem can green up and take off. Plant grass seed.
faltered
18 years ago
Sandy: I understand your frustration and agree that people should label potentially invasive plants when swapping. But, on another note, what's invasive to one might not be to another.

Tracy
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Jack, I can understand why an anonymous note would make you uncomfortable, and I can also understand why you don't want to name the plant because it's irrelevant to the discussion. However, if it is on your state's noxious list, should you as a responsible citizen continue to offer it for sale? If it is not on the list then there's no issue. Here's what I would do. Print out the "Severe Threat" list for your state from the Invasives.org website Vaccinium provided, post it in a prominent location and post below it your "Company Policy" that your customers will never find one of these plants for sale at your nursery. How many of your customers have actually ever seen that list? And, how many confuse "invasive" with "aggressive spreaders or seeders"? You'll be educating them. If a customer questions the invasiveness of a plant you sell, you can show them the list and explain the difference. I have never seen and never expect to see Japanese Honeysuckle, Kudzu, Tree of Heaven, Mimosa, Common Privet, or Chinese Privet for sale at any nursery in the South. However, I have purchased Variegated Porcelain Berry and have it growing on an arbor. That plant is not on my state's invasive list, but is on "Watch List B, plants that are severe problems in surrounding states, but have not been reported in Tennessee". I'll watch it. Interestingly enough on "Watch List A: Exotic plants that naturalize and may become a problem in the future", among others are listed Buddleia, Cosmos, Rose of Sharon, Spearmint, Peppermint, and Grape Hyacinth. All of these are commonly found in every nursery and most gardens. Where do you draw the line? Do you refuse to sell any plant that is listed on not only the Severe Threat List, but also the lower threat lists the watch lists? That's your decision and your conscience.
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hammerl
18 years ago
Agreed. Take lily-of-the-valley. You may have it coming through the sidewalk. I've got maybe 10 plants, and they've been sloooowly multiplying for about 5 years.

Most people don't find sweet woodruff invasive. It's a ground cover, it spreads slowly. At my house, the dog's been spreading the seed around on her feet in the springtime, and I now have large quantities in three beds. Meanwhile, my sister-in-law can't get it to grow.

Things that are invasive for me I label so at swaps. That doesn't mean it will be that way elsewhere. Some people consider money plant invasive because it reseeds. Well, this year I have no money plant, and haven't been overrun in previous years.Obedient plant is invasive, but I plant it under a huge willow and I don't have a problem with it.
lucy925
18 years ago
I'm still fighting cameleon how do you smother this, it has underground runners that don't seem to care, they seem to find a area to pop up in. Don't ever but this bugger!
wantoretire_did
18 years ago
Yes, I was given some Bishop's Weed at a swap. Who knew? I was desperate to fill in, so it isn't a problem YET. But, those d@#m lilly of the valley........

Carol
gardeningwitch
18 years ago
Everywhere you look in my yards all you see is Lily of the valley. I posted it on Freecycle, "you dig" and I have a ton of people responding. I also got rid of my Pachasandra (sp) and mounds and mounds of daylillies that way too. It saves my back from having to dig it all out!

Just thought I would mention it!

:o)
wantoretire_did
18 years ago
Gardeningwitch - I did that last year and most of them were taken, however a neighbor wanted some so I had the fellow leave a small patch. Neighbor then became ill for most of the past year, now doesn't want them. Back to Freecycle!!

Carol
oldroser
18 years ago
One man's weed is another man's find - I've bought (and for high prices) a few things I'm still trying to get rid of - a cow parsley named Raven's Wing - attractive but a persistent weed. And a lysimachia with purple foliage that was devastatingly attractive and sent runners in all directions.
OTOH, I've grown Lily of the Valley for years and it has barely moved. The lemon balm was planted in a sort of wild area and after 10 years is about 18" across. The most aggressive invaders are ajuga, filipendula ulmaria and monarda Cambridge Scarlet - they've fought to a draw in the same area. As for filipendula Venusta Rubra, I zap it with Roundup whenever I see it. Who knew that this beautiful thing would sucker yards in all directions?
wantoretire_did
18 years ago
I've had half dozen responses from Freecycle so far. Hoping that will take care of it.

Carol
waplummer
17 years ago
Twinlead, Bloodroot, Wild and european Ginger, Ostrich fern, Stylophorum, mayapple and others are among plants that are becoming invasive for me.

labeling 'invasives' at plant swaps, etc.

Comments (10)

Aurore

faltered

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