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Purposefully growing invasive plants

Aleksey Denzil 5b

5 years ago

I have thistle, burdock, and goldenrod seeds that I know are highly invasive plants but also, very good at producing nectar and pollen for pollinators.

It's my #1 goal this season to grow as much pollinating plants to feed them. I also thought it would be better to have those invasive nectar plants than other useless weeds and lawn.

Am I having a garden death wish to grow those three?

Featured Answer

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I would ditch the exotics that are invasive and stick with native wildflowers. Solidago (assuming it's a native one,) is a great start.

I totally agree with you that (almost) anything is better than a worthless patch of lawn that requires expensive, pollution-causing equipment to maintain and the wasting of ones' time by repeatedly using that equipment to repeatedly shorten it. It's much more rewarding to grow something than to repeatedly mangle something.

Starting by learning the butterflies & birds in your area, and their preferred nectar, seed, and host plants, then trying to grow those sounds much more worthy of your time and effort than exotic invasives. And it is also not difficult to find information about natives (and some non-invasive exotics) that bees love.

When plants are called invasive as a gardening term, being exotic to the location in question is assumed. All plants are native to somewhere, and when found where native, they can't be called invasive. A native can't invade its' own territory. This does not at all mean that that all or even many gardeners would want to cultivate any particular native plant. Being too big, seedy, and/or exuberantly spready is a valid reason many natives are shunned by gardeners. Calling them "wild" instead of "invasive" is more precise.

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Comments (8)

Jean
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Deadhead them. The bees don't need them then.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
5 years ago
Regarding the thistles and goldenrod. Don't wait until the flowers are dead to cut them off. They can ripen seed even after cutting, as can dandelions, so cut and bag them before they wither.

On the other hand there are plenty of pollinator friendly plants which are more attractive and not invasive.
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kimmq
5 years ago
None of the invasive plants I am aware of are native to the area people grow them, so why would you consider doing that, growing non native plants?
windberry zone5a BCCanada
5 years ago
Well, we don't know where OP is located. However, most Solidago (Goldenrod) species are native to North America. Even more, "The goldenrod is the state flower of the U.S. states of Kentucky (adopted 1926) and Nebraska (adopted 1895). Goldenrod was recently named the state wildflower of South Carolina. The sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora) is the state herb of Delaware.[19] Goldenrod was the state flower of Alabama" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldenrod
Aleksey Denzil 5b
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm somewhere in North America 5a or b, it varies according to various websites. :)
donna_in_sask
5 years ago
I agree with Floral, there are lots of choice plants that are beneficial to pollinating insects, you don't need to purposely cultivate invasive weeds. Also consider your neighbours if you live in close proximity to other gardens. Thistles can travel very far via their roots and seeds.
Kaillean (zone 8, Vancouver)
5 years ago
Why introduce unnecessary potential problems for your own yard and others when there are so many other options?

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