Last week I heard an interesting talk about invasive plants at the Master Gardener meeting. It’s important to understand the difference between “introduced” versus “invasive.” Obviously, we’re surrounded by plants that have been introduced into our landscape but invasive plants take advantage of their new location and spread uncontrollably, changing eco-systems, diluting the gene pool of native plants, and introducing diseases to native plants whose resistance is low. Invasive plants cost the state of California $82 million a year in removal, diseases, prevention, and habitat loss. We humans are already doing a bang-up job of wrecking things, so invasive plants are only adding to the woes of our environment.
I’ve known that Pampas grass was an invasive plant, but I didn’t know that one plume of Pampas grass has 10,000 seeds that can spread up to two miles in the wind! There were other plants, just to name a few, on the list of invasive plants that surprised me such as Highway Iceplant, Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Washington Palms, Brazilian Peppertrees and Green Fountain Grass.
The speaker from PlantRight.org said that nurseries are doing a better job of removing invasive plants from their inventories, but it takes all of us to pay attention and be more thoughtful about what we plant in our own gardens.
In my town, Pampas grass has been spreading on the beach for years.
Pampas grass is very pretty with sun behind it but can you imagine how many seeds are flying around out there?!!!
Green Fountain grass has arrived and is spreading like wildfire along the sidewalk at the beach. It is pretty when it blows in the wind, but anything that spreads that fast can’t be good.
Green Fountain Grass is pretty but it has spread all along the beachfront.
Also, Washington palms have popped up at the beach, too. Three of them are quite tall now and part of the landscape, but not because someone planted them there.
Hearty Washington palms are thriving at the beach.
To learn more about invasive plants: PlantRight.org and California Invasive Plant Council are two good resources for information.
{ 0 comments }
