BAD PLANTS PLANTED BY GOOD PEOPLE

HORTICULTURE TOPIC: Bad Plants Planted by Good People

​At our November meeting, Horticulture Chair Nancy Percivall led an important discussion on invasive plants and the impact they have on Maryland’s ecosystems. Many invasive species are deceptively beautiful and continue to be sold at local nurseries and garden centers, contributing to their spread in our landscapes.

Nancy shared that, effective April 11, 2017, Maryland banned the sale of three aggressively spreading ornamentals: yellow flag iris, shining cranesbill, and fig buttercup. In addition, the state now requires warning labels to be posted next to displays of the following plants, which pose ecological threats due to their invasive nature: Burning bush, Border privet, and three non-native wisteria vines: Chinese wisteria, Japanese wisteria, and an Asian wisteria hybrid

These regulations are part of the state’s broader effort to protect native habitats from the harmful effects of invasive species, which often outcompete native plants and reduce biodiversity.

Click the link below for a helpful list of commonly planted invasive plants and consider choosing native alternatives to help preserve Maryland’s natural beauty and ecological health.

COMMONLY PLANTED INVASIVE PLANTS