Invasive Plants have gotten loose in your garden

LOL. put them inside a lead-lined box and dump in the river. :) I'm sure we can come up with creative ways to rid you of these QAL seeds.

NO! then the lead will leach into the Columbia and kill the salmon!!!! lol

Judi, there are lots around anyway-believe me, you won't be responsible, but you could always toast them in the oven or in a pan on the stove and then toss them in the trash...or I suppose microwaving would work, too?

You could hide them in your next guest's suitcase as a stowaway. No one will be the wiser. :)

Just smash them and flush!

Oooooo I like the toasting them first. I'll put the little buggers in the convection oven at high temp. The microwave might nuke them into mutancy and they would take over the world.

You could send them to me - I like them a lot & i have plenty of room to fill.

Katie that is the one...you get one bulb in one season seems like you have 200 I pull out all the time. So sorry I ever wanted it.

D

I got it because it was cool looking and NOT one word even after asking about it being invasive...

D

Just got in from Oregon where the Shreiner's Iris fields are in full bloom! I'm going to miss that part of the drive.
Too wired to go to bed, so maybe I'll sound off about aggressive and/or invasive plants for a bit. Someone mentioned that it would be nice if garden centers labeled them. I agree that it would be nice. But what is aggressive in my yard might not be so in someone else's yard. It really depends on more than just the zone. If something really takes off in nice moist, rich soil and full sun but you want to grow it anyway, it might be fine in a drier area with less sun and a less nutrient rich soil. Maybe it would spread a bit but not be rampant. I would like to see them put something like 'when grown in optimal conditions of rich, moist soil and full sun in zones 5-9, this plant spreads quickly'. Of course, I guess that would slow down the sales of those plants, so I wish us all a lot of luck in convincing retailers to be more honest about these things.

I'm fairly certain that the mountain ash tree I hate is not a native plant. If it isn't on the weed list, it should be.

irisloverdee - since I cut the flowers for drying, there is no seed to spread. I get to enjoy them fresh & dried, without the headache.

Melissa - I agree.
What it boils down to is the region one lives in plus conditions, microclimates & siting on one's property.
What is rampant in one area of my property, may putz along in another.
I've been curious as to the matter of self seeding: Columbines & Foxgloves for example - both would overtake the orchard if I allowed - but I keep them in check by pulling. I doubt that either is on the "invasives" list. Sweet Woodruff & Dicentra formosa should be in the invasion category, they do spread freely in a very robust fashion! Of course, I happen to love Verbena bonariensis & will never have to worry about running out...
As far as being tagged - I think educating oneself is a good way to go plus it keeps the cost of plants down.

Oh, I love verbena bonariensis, too and see them coming up now. I'm thrilled. My Centaurea hasn't spread at all. It is still in its little clump.

Kayte how could you have "plenty of room" in the garden when you buy plants all of the time? Are you a fairy living in the mountains?

I don't mind plants that may require vigilance to control, but I do draw the line at those that are detrimental to native species - like Ailanthus trees that produce toxins that prevent other plants from growing in that area. Those trees can also damage foundations and pipes. But then Sweet Woodruff is considered invasive but I love it and have it in my yard - it's easy to keep under control and doesn't produce those toxins. So I am always confused about why some plants are bad-no-matter-what and others may be invasive just because they grow rapidly. I'm guessing that if some of these are in gardens where gardeners keep them under control that's ok, but if they spread to areas like forests where no one is checking them, they become invasive. If they are carried on the wind or by birds to the wild areas, then that's a problem.

Steve - the orchard has plenty of room as do the areas where the lawn is in a continual state of disappearance. Minimal, that is...
Must have lots of choices for the Bees that live on my property. I have guaranteed them provisions from February through October, and while they aren't known for being litigious, contractual non-compliance might not be the best way to go.

My neighbor hates Centaurea and says he's pulling it all the time. I thought it reseeded only, but he says that he has rhizomes . . . is that right?

yep - not easy to eradicate. Dig out the root & give to Tils!

Ohhhhhh. That changes things a little bit. I wasn't too worried if it only spread by seed, but rhizomes is a whole different story. Good to know.

I was at Sunnyside Nursery (Marysville) the other day, and while I really like the nursery, I was shocked to see them selling Bishop's Weed! OMG! I thought jeez, here I am throwing money away while I spend hours digging up that junk, when I could be potting it up and selling it. But then I thought that I didn't even want to give that stuff away, as I didn't want to propogate the spread of that stuff.

I feel the same way about mine. I was tempted to sell it at the MG plant sale but didn't.^_^

As promised earlier, here is a shot of that nasty oalis weed, taken in EWA where it gets a lot more sun and heat. It is much redder, but the flowers are still the same yellow.

When I think of some of the plants I have planted on this property for the last 30 years, part of me wants to run ( and never look back), part of me wants to stick around and see what happens and the rest of me feels a responsibility to take care of what I have done. (A life sentence) This is an evergreen, Hydrangea seemani that I purchased 10 years ago at Heronswood. and this poor window hadn't seen the light of day for several years

OOH that looks nice.

Az, that hydrangea is mentioned in Hinkley's new book- he says " The plant is vigorous is growth and climbed more than 35 ft in our woodland in fewer than 10 yrs." Sounds like it's happy at your house, too. ;)

On the plus side, he did say he hadn't seen lots of seedlings...

That hydrangea does look happy!

Actually, I love that oxalis. I think it's pretty and I don't generally pull it up. I even like the flowers. Call me wierd...but people generally pay a lot for plants with that leaf color.

Sue - what do you think of Dan's book?

susybell- thankyou I have 3 others and I was happy to see the oldest bloom for the first time last year.
Pixydish- Even though I struggle with the red oxalis I think it is pretty too! That makes me wierd too (especially since I dig it up) and maybe more wierd. LOL

Kathy, it's interesting. In format and tone it's very similar to his first book. I think he's been working on it for a long time. I'm really enjoying that he's included snippets of his journals from his collecting trips at the start of each chapter so there are interesting little bits about the trips and not just the cool plants. (He has a big section on hydrangeas-some really nice plant pictures in there) One thing that I noticed is that a lot of the plants he's talking about are from Heronswood, or he grew them there-but he never says "Heronswood". It's always "my first garden", or "my woodland garden" or something similar.

I also get the feeling that some of the plants he's mentioned may be released under Monrovia. The lecture I just went to he mentioned that they were going to be releasing some of his plants.

Looks like I should comment on the oxalis, too! ;) I don't particularly like it, but it's one that I can live with more than others. I don't think I'll be free of it anyway so I try to pull the smallest plants and any that are particularly annoying. Guess I'm right in the middle like Az, too. Maybe "ambivalent" would be a good word.

I have not pulled up any oxalis. Is it ok to leave in place? It looks nice next to other plants.

Sharon and Melissa - are you guys talking about this oxalis? http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/oxaco.htm.

Judi - I like the oxalis oregana. It has a nice white flower. It has a much more lush look than some of the other oxalis. When it gets going, it will spread and it's not necessarily easy to get out. And, like all ground covers, it will invade grass and will try to move over concrete sidewalks, patios, etc. Some people like that, some don't.

I like it when it's where I want it (under a cedar). If you have it in a dry, sunny, place, the conditions will limit its growth somewhat. On the other hand, oxalis is so successful, that sometimes it will continue to grow, but just look puny.

Sue - thanks for the book review. I think I might go ahead and get the book. Then maybe I can get him to sign it in the fall when we make that little tour of Windcliff. I'm excited about that.

If there's another open house at Heronswood this summer, I think I'll go again. I just can't get enough of it, really, for ideas and inspiration. The book might help me to ID some stuff ahead of time.

I've been scouring Oregon's lists of invasive plants just to be sure that I don't bring in something dastardly when I move. It's depressing -- seems like EVERYTHING is invasive in that state. I mean, come on -- foxgloves?!

there is a difference between what counts as invasive & what is deemed aggressive. What is the criteria & who determines it? If plants self-sow, and the conditions are right, there will be plenty of offspring.
I judge by what is hard to eradicate, what will take over an area and what jeopardizes the health of surrounding plants.
Foxgloves are fine - easy to pull & provide for the bees.

I think the criteria includes any plant that when it spreads, whether by seeds, roots, etc, or by birds or other creatures, it crowds out native species. So if foxglove spreads by birds carrying seeds and then takes over an area and does not allow native vegetation to survive, that's invasive! Plants self-seeding profusely are not invasive if they are not taking over the world - they may just be pests and require control on our part. I had to do research since I was getting confused!

I'm totally confused. It's not like I'm dragging a bunch of foxgloves across the country, but what about everything else? I love lamiastrum. It doesn't leap over trees like kudzu does, but honestly, can I not have it in my flowerbeds?

Check on the Oregon Invasive Species list. There is a big problem controlling invasives here since everything grows so fast. And don't even think about English ivy!

Oh, I did! That's why I feel as if the only thing I'll be allowed to plant is tomatoes & peppers since they don't do well.

I think this presents a necessary principal in stewardship: balance.
I have researched invasives, but i also see firsthand that not all things deemed as such, act that way in all situations. The micro-climates, soil & siting effect whether or not something will thrive. This is applicable to all plants: give them the conditions they love & they will most likely grow with enthusiasm. I see it as regional as well as local. What does well on my property, may not grow at all at my neighbour's, and vice-versa. If something is questionable, be vigilant about disposing of seed, etc.

So ... how do we quantify & apply this on anything larger than a basis of, say, flower pot by flower pot?

In regards to the lamiastrum?
Or in general?

I'm just thinking plants in general -- it sems as if, in a climate as warm as Oregon's, anything & everything can just WHOMP! Head on out.

Again, I believe you will acquire this knowledge as you work your land.
Not everything that grows here, thrives. Rhodys & Azaleas do well, until deprived of water for a period. Grass will grow on a golf-course in Las Vegas, IF watered 3X day. So, when you are questioning whether or not to plant something in the event it has any negative qualities, do the research, but remember that not everything thrives. If I am concerned, I contain the plant in a pot. Mint would be a stellar example!
Your soil will be the key, as well as water/sun. I would not dream of planting english ivy, but there are others I would plant. foxgloves being one of them. Not all the rules fit all situations.

What is already there would give you a good idea of what does well. From the looks of the gardens at your new place, they are lovely. If the people are still there, maybe you could ask them about the ones you want to bring. I'm with Katye about bringing the foxgloves. Maybe if you deadhead the seeds the birds won't get them. I'm still getting rid of English ivy, cuz I wasn't vigilant.