What are BC’s most invasive plants?
by OB 2020-10In this playlist you will find information on 4 different invasive species, what is an invasive species, and how we can help remove invasive specie.
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By OB 2020-10
An invasive species is a non native species to an area. This species spreads from a the point of introduction to the new area. The invasive species label is only given to a species if upon introduction to the new area has changed the environment around it. An invasive species can over take and environment making it harder for more of the native plant seeds to grow around the area.
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By OB 2020-10
Giant Hogweed is invasive as it affects ecosystems because of how big it is. Other plants have to compete with it for sunlight, nutrience, and water, and they often lose. Because of these factors Giant Hogweed is killing off native plants in the areas that it grows, it can produce tens of thousands of seeds every year making it easier to spread to other areas and ecosystems.
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By OB 2020-10
Giant Hogweed has white flowers and huge jagged edged leaves. The plant has a towering height of 5 meters (16ft). Giant Hogweeds sap is very dangerous when touched. Rashes and blistering can persist up for 10 years after contact. If eyes are touched with sap it can result in temporary blindness. When removing the plant it is suggested to wear eye protection and waterproof gloves. The best way to remove the plant is to cut off flower heads and cutting the root crowns.
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By OB 2020-10
Giant Hogweed prefers wet areas like ditches, banks of water courses, roadsides, and railways. This plant can also be found in fields and vacant lots of land. Giant Hogweed can be found mainly in the lower mainland, easter parts of vancouver island, gulf islands, and parts of the kootenays.
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By OB 2020-10
Common Tansy displaces natie vegetation by taking over the environment that it grows in. This plant is toxic to farm animals and grazers. Common Tansy leaves neurotoxins, toxic oils, and pesticide pyrethrin in the soil that it grows in. The plants seeds are viable for up to 25 years. The prevention of seeds spreading is the main concern with is invasive species.
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By OB 2020-10
Common Tansy can have 20 - 200 flower heads with vibrant yellow petals. The plant has a green steam with long narrow leaf stems with multiple little jagged edged leaves on them. The steams can be as high as 1.8 meters (6ft). Occasional mowing will not help get rid of Common Tansy but will only increase the growth. To get rid of this plant use herbicide and mowing to effectively eradicate Common Tansy.
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By OB 2020-10
Common Tansy is known to grow in places will full sun and fertile well-drained soil, rather then shady places with dry soil. This plant can often be found near or in stream banks, pastures, and roadsides. This plant is more frequent in these places around BC, Southeast coast of Vancouver Island, Squamish/Pemberton, Gulf Islands, Sunshine coast, and many more places.
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By OB 2020-10
Yellow and Orange Hawkweeds replace the native vegetation in the areas that they grow. For example, undisturbed natural areas like meadows. This plant reduces forage and threatens biodiversity in the areas that it grows in. Yellow and Orange hawkweed is often introduced to new areas by wild seed mixes or transplants from one garden to the next. This species is difficult and vital to control as a 1 meter square of this plant can produce over 40,000 seeds per year.
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By OB 2020-10
Yellow and Orange Hawkweed have dark green stems with flowers that are more commonly yellow but can also be orange. Hawkweed with vibrant orange petals are considered non toxic, unlike the hawkweed with yellow flowers which is considered toxic. To remove yellow and orange hawkweed cut of the flower heads and dig out the roots. Be careful as to make sure that none of the plant parts scatter as the plant could regrow.
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By OB 2020-10
Yellow and orange hawkweed can be found in low to mid-elevations throughout most forests. This plant displaces native species in the area, reduces forage, and invades undisturbed natural areas. It overtakes fields and pastures. It can be found in the Northern rockies, Peace river regional districts, and Eastern regions of the rocky mountains. It also dominates east Kootenay, and central Kootenay.
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By OB 2020-10
Japanese knotweed is invasive as it reduces the available habitat area because of its massive size. Because of its size it threatens the biodiversity in the area and reduces the native plants around it. Japanese knotweed is also very easy to spread, as it can transfer from people's clothes and shoes to new areas.
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By OB 2020-10
Japanese knotweed has stout reddish brown stems, rough heart shaped leaves, and seasonal greenish white flowers. This plant is able to grow through house foundations and cement. The japanese knotweed is able to grow up to 3 meters tall (10ft) in a year. To remove japanese knotweed the first step is to cover the area with tarps to catch the pieces of plant being cut. Then dig up rhizomes to prevent further growth.
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By OB 2020-10
Japanese knotweed grows in riparian areas, wetlands, roadsides, ditches along forest edges, creeks and lakes. The plant prefers places with full sunlight and moist soil. Japanese knotweed can grow and sustain in many conditions. It is also salt tolerant and can survive extreme climates. This plant can be found in the lower fraser valley region.
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By OB 2020-10
We can all help to prevent the spread of invasive plants, so here is a few things that we can do. Volunteer to help remove invasive species in your community. when choosing plants for your garden use native plant seeds that are common in your area. Treat new infestations of invasive species quickly so it can spread as fast. Limit the movement of weed infested soil, as this can spread the invasive species.