Don’t Pass Along Aggressive or Invasive Plants and Pests

Gardeners are generous people. We like to share gardening tips, homegrown produce, and plants. But before you pass along a plant, be sure it won’t create a problem for the other person.

You may have purchased the plant years ago because it was advertised as vigorous, hardy, and beautiful. And it was. But soon you had so many plants you started sharing with friends. But some of these like buckthorn, honeysuckle, goutweed, and purple loosestrife are invasive. These plants escape the garden invading wetlands, woodlands, prairies, and other native communities. Invasive plants crowd out the native plants that wildlife depend upon. And some like barberry, honeysuckle and buckthorn provide the perfect environment for disease-carrying ticks.

Don’t share invasive plants with friends and family. And consider replacing those in your landscape with something more suitable. And when appropriate, select plants native to your area.

A bit more information: Not sure if your plant is a bully or an invader? When in doubt check before you pass the plant along to someone else. Click here for a list of invasive plants and for more links to several other invasive plant lists, click here.