Sometimes, people are reluctant to stop planting or selling invasive plants. While beautiful, invasive plants can cause harm to our health, environment, and economy, and should not be planted intentionally.
Here are some quick counters to common objections:
I’ve grown Periwinkle in my yard for years and it’s never escaped my garden bed. Why should I remove it?
That’s great that Common Periwinkle isn’t causing any problems for you, however, in the right conditions, this plant can thrive and form a monoculture. It is a shade-tolerant species that has escaped gardens in the region and is already impacting forested areas across the south coast of BC.
Periwinkle can severely damage the local environment, cause erosion, and displace or prevent the germination of native species.
Furthermore, climate change may exacerbate the effects of Common Periwinkle or other invasive species in the Sea to Sky region by creating a more favourable growing environment for them.
Try planting Redwood sorrel instead, a non-invasive and bear-safe alternative.
Common Periwinkle (photo credit: J. Fenneman)
Unless it’s illegal, I’m going to keep growing invasive plants.
Different municipalities in the Sea to Sky have regulations and bylaws for invasive species. Depending on where you are, it may be illegal to grow and sell invasive plants.
Even if growing invasives is not technically illegal, that doesn’t mean it’s a wise choice. Invasive species are known to escape from gardens and spread rapidly into nearby areas. You could unknowingly damage your neighbour’s garden or other outdoor spaces!
Please consider joining the PlantWise program. By choosing to plant non-invasive species, you can lead by example, and encourage other gardeners to do the same.
Consider planting non-invasive Redwood sorrel. (photo credit: D. Stephens)
If invasive plants are bad, how come I can still buy them in the store?
Great question! Organizations at the local, regional and provincial levels are working to change the regulations regarding the sale of invasive species. However, this process takes a long time, and changes may not happen for several years. Check out the FAQ’s section on our page for gardeners to learn more about the challenges municipalities are facing and what has been done.
As a consumer, one way to encourage change is to buy non-invasives or support PlantWise sellers committed to being invasive-free. This will help shift the horticulture industry away from selling invasives.
If you are a plant seller, you could consider becoming PlantWise! Let your suppliers know that you aren’t interested in buying invasives.
English Ivy is an invasive species in the Sea to Sky that is commonly sold in stores.
The PlantWise resources are good and all, but I don’t think they apply to our region.
While all plants in the Grow Me Instead guide are considered invasive throughout B.C., some invasive plants from the guide are less compatible with the Sea to Sky’s climate zone than with other climate zones in B.C. This doesn’t mean they’re safe to plant, though.
Climate change can cause drastic changes to our climate and ecosystem, which could make these “less invasive” plants become significantly more harmful to our region. Learn more about the relationship between climate change and invasive species.
While it might look like those species are “less invasive” than others, it’s best to avoid planting them as a preventative measure before they become a more significant problem.
The Grow Me Instead Guide also recommends various alternatives for all of B.C., including bear smart (and not-so-bear-smart) plants. Please keep this in mind when choosing alternatives and make sure you’re not planting bear attractants. Check out the guide to find which species are safe for the Sea to Sky region.