Invasive Plants Lurking In Wildflower Seed Mixes
The season is changing and people are getting out in their gardens, appreciating the beautiful of...... read more

Know What You Grow
It’s that time of year. We are out in our gardens enjoying the sunshine (when it is here),...... read more

Invasive Plant Photo Contest Winners
Some Kootenay residents are $200 wealthier since the Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee (CKIP...... read more

Read More Special Features

"Beautiful in your garden, but be aware"

Some of the invasive non-native plant species that are causing problems in the Central Kootenay were brought in (and continue to be sold or transplanted) as garden ornamentals. Because these plants are very beautiful and easy to grow, they are popular garden choices. However, these plants can "jump the garden fence" and spread into our native ecosystems, choking out native plants and changing our ecology.

Unfortunately, there is little legislation in place to prevent these plants from being sold, even if they are recognized as creating problems. Instead, many gardeners, landscape architects, and nursery professionals are adopting "Voluntary Codes of Conduct" to do their part to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plants. Click here for examples of these Codes of Conduct. Please let us know if your local club or association is interested in adopting these!

The following garden species are of particular concern in the Central Kootenay. "Garden Wise", a handbook for alternatives, can be downloaded from the Washington Invasive Species Coalition (2.1 MB). Pages for specific species (particularly for those with dial-up) can be downloaded below:

• Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) – Garden Alternatives
• Japanese and Giant knotweed (Polygonum spp.) – Garden Alternatives
• Policeman’s helmet/ Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
• Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)
• False acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) – Garden Alternatives
• Bristly locust (Robinia hispida)
• Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) – Garden Alternatives
• Lamium (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)

There are other species that may be persistent in your garden, but do not tend to invade our native ecosystems. These include creeping charlie (Glechoma bederacea), sweet woodruff (Gailium odoratum) and goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria). The Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee focuses on those species that have landscape-level impacts.

One option for gardeners to consider is to incorporate native plants into their landscaping. Local sources of native plants are:

• Kootenay Native Plants (Susan Hulland and Heather Sandilands)
  250-227-9387 (Crawford Bay) shulland@direct.ca
• Green By Nature BC Native Plants
  250-304-5802 (Castlegar) Annette@greenbynature.ca

What can you do?

• Adopt the voluntary codes of conduct as a gardener or in your club or association
• Request your local garden centre to stop selling invasive plants and provide alternative species instead
• Remove or control any invasive species on your property
• Be careful of disposing of invasive plant material – do not dump garden waste in natural areas. Dispose of seeds and other reproductive parts by burning or bagging and taking to the dump
• Learn to identify invasive plants to prevent spreading or transplanting them
• Report invasive plant sightings to the Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee

Report invasive plants! The Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee is conducting an inventory of these problem garden ornamentals. We are interested in documenting the full extent of these species, both in gardens and in natural areas. Please report these species to us! We will be happy to provide you with information for alternative species to use as a replacement, or on how to control your plants from spreading if you decide to keep them. Please contact us.