Invasive Spotlight: Invasive Plants

Jun 5, 2018

The flowers of French broom are attractive, but this invasive plant is not a good choice for landscapes. (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
The flowers of French broom are attractive, but this invasive plant is not a good choice for landscapes. (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
People in urban and suburban areas often use the term “invasive” to describe plants or weeds that appear to take over a garden or landscape. However, true invasive plants are weeds that infest ecosystems, rangelands, and pasture—places common garden weeds don't thrive.

Invasive plants can reduce native plant and animal diversity, threaten endangered species habitat, and increase wildfire and flood danger. Most invasive plants were introduced as ornamentals from the retail nursery industry, or for the purposes of soil stabilization, animal forage, human food, fiber, or medicinal plants. Some may still be found for sale at retail nursery and garden centers, including the following:

pampasgrass (Cortaderia selloana)               big periwinkle  (Vinca major) 

water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)           Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)    

English ivy (Hedera helix)                            crimson fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum)

Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima)

Continue learning more about invasive plants by reading the Pest Notes: Invasive Plants. Remember to stay tuned for more blog posts during California Invasive Species Action Week.

Resources

California Invasive Plant Council

Better Choices for California on the PlantRight website

By Anne Schellman
Author - Master Gardener
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Contributor - Associate Director for Urban & Community IPM/ Area Urban IPM Advisor
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