I Spy in the Sea to Sky…

Butterfly Bush was originally planted as a garden ornamental, but has long ago escaped the confines of gardens and grows invasively throughout the Southern portion of the Sea to Sky region. You can easily spot it along the highway, on vacant lots, and throughout green spaces and parks. It is extremely competitive with Native plants, shading them out, and altering the Nitrogen and Phosphorous content of the soil to make them less able to grow. In forests, it competes with Douglas-fir seedlings.

You can easily pull young Butterfly Bush plants out by hand. Larger plants will need to be cut at the base, and the stump dug up to prevent regeneration. Any stems left on the ground will root and re-grow.

The goal is to eradicate Butterfly bush in Whistler, and prevent it from establishing altogether in Pemberton. If you spot it north of Squamish, report it by contacting SSISC.

About author Claude-Anne Godbout-Gauthier

Clo is the Communications and Outreach Manager at SSISC, and has been writing about all things invasive since 2018. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Program Evaluation, and a college degree in Horticulture.
There's a special place in her heart for a good pun, knitting, and outdoor activities. She hails from Gatineau, Quebec.