Invasive Plants
Not every plant sold in a nursery makes a good choice for your garden or landscape. Some non-native plants find wild success in Lasqueti's climate and soils - so much so that they can spread uncontrollably, pushing out more sensitive species. Many of the following are mentioned at bcinvasives.ca as being invasive plants in BC. If you know of others, contact Terry at 8501. I am slowing working on this project , so forgive the incomplete information.
Invasive Species
| Common Name Scientific Name | Description | Possible Alternatives | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bohemian Knotweed Fallopia. x bohemica | Lush, bamboo-like with pretty feathery white flowers. 2-5m high. Among the most difficult plants to eradicate. | Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum). False Soloman's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum). Bugbane (Actaea ramosa and A. simplex). |  |
| Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii | Hardy deciduous semi-evergreen shrub 4-5m tall | Red-flowering Current (Ribes sangunieum). California Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus). Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor). |  |
| Common Periwinkle Vinca minor | Forms dense mats & invades wet areas. Vinca major is less problematic. | Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum). Piggyback Plant (Tolmeia menziesii). Christmas Box (Sarcococca hookeriana). |  |
| English Holly Ilex aquifolium | Large bush or small tree - spread by birds. Casts deep shade that deprives native plants of light, nutrients & water. | Holly-leaf Osmanthus (Osmanthus heterophyllus). Tall Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium). San Jose Holly (Ilex x aquipernyi). |  |
| English Ivy Hedera hiburnica | Thick mats overwhelm plants on the forest floor and, smother trees. | Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant). Salal (Gaultheria shallon). Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.). |  |
| Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum | Stout, bright green stem spotted with dark red.Small white flower clusters. Grows more than 2m. high. Sap causes blistering & scarring. | Blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea). Wild celery (Angelica archangelica). |  |
| Giant Knotweed Fallopia sachalenensis | Lush, bamboo-like with pretty feathery white flowers. 2-5m high. Among the most difficult plants to eradicate. | Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum). False Soloman's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum). Bugbane (Actaea ramosa and A. simplex). | |
| Himalayan Blackberry Rubus armeniacus |  | ||
| Himalayan Knotweed Polygonum polystachyum | Lush, bamboo-like with pretty feathery white flowers. 2-5m high. Among the most difficult plants to eradicate. | Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum). False Soloman's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum). Bugbane (Actaea ramosa and A. simplex). |  |
| Japanese Knotweed Falliopa japonica | Lush, bamboo-like with pretty feathery white flowers. 2-5m high. Among the most difficult plants to eradicate. | Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum). False Soloman's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum). Bugbane (Actaea ramosa and A. simplex) | |
| Policemen’s Helmet/ Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera | Grows 1-2m high with a soft green or red-tinged stem. Pink flower. Crushed foliage has a musty smell. | Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa). Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera). |  |
| Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria | |||
| Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius | Spanish Broom |  | |
| Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata | Edible herb with anise flavour / smell. Very hard to eradicate - deep roots re-grow from small fragments. |  | |
| Spurge Laurel (or daphne laurel, laurel-leaved daphne, olive-spurge, wood laurel, copse laurel) Daphne laureola | European flowering shrub. Spread rapidly by seed and root sucker. Poisonous and gloves must be worn when hand pulling to protect against the caustic sap. (see Wikipedia entry... ) |  | |
| Yellow Archangel/Lamium Lamium galeobdolon |  | ||
| Yellow Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus |