Invasive What Not To Do Who to Call And Our Environment

For more information, or to volunteer to participate in invasive removal projects, please visit coquitlam.ca/badseed.

Dumping invasive plants in Coquitlam is strictly prohibited. The City of Coquitlam has the authority to fine offenders. To report dumping of invasive plants, please contact the City of Coquitlam.

• Never dump yard trimmings, garden waste or hanging baskets into natural areas and parkland. • Avoid buying plants promoted as fast spreaders or City of Coquitlam vigorous self-seeders as they are often invasive. Phone: 604-927-6300 Please Do the Following Email: [email protected] • Dispose of invasive plant material in your City of Coquitlam Green Cart, except Giant Hogweed. For more information about Giant Hogweed please visit 3000 Guildford Way coquitlam.ca/hogweed. Coquitlam, BC, V3B 7N2 • Grow native plants in your garden. • Control the spread of invasive plants on your property by removing them or containing them. • Use caution when using plant seed mixes as they may can contain invasive plants. coquitlam.ca/badseed Invasive plants are non-native plants that grow and spread quickly, taking over the natural environment. Over 25 invasive plant species have been identified in Coquitlam to date. Here are six species commonly found invading our ravines and parks. These plants are Bad Seeds.

English Ivy Yellow Lamium Periwinkle Japanese Knotweed Giant Hogweed Hedera helix Lamiastrum galeobdolon Vinca minor arvensis Fallopia japonica Heracleum mantegazzianum A climber that smothers Common to hanging baskets, it This trailing displaces native This very persistent climbing vine Dense, tall thickets can grow Known for its umbrella shaped almost all vegetation and acts like ivy, smothering native plants needed by wildlife. smothers native plants. from a small root or stem, heads, it can reach up can kill trees. plants. crowding out other plants. to 15 feet and its sap can cause severe burns.

How You Can Help Invasive plants cost us in many ways. What Are Invasive Plants • Dispose of yard trimmings and invasive They are expensive to control and plants (except Giant Hogweed) in your Invasive plants are non-native plants that were eradicate. They can also cause erosion Green Cart for curbside collection. introduced into our natural environment through Additional trimmings can be taken to the seeds, cuttings, garden plants, etc. They grow and silt problems in creeks. Some, like Coquitlam Transfer Station, 1200 United and spread quickly, pushing out native plants, ivy, kill trees. Boulevard, for free. destroying habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife. Quite simply, they are Bad Seeds. • Giant Hogweed is toxic and it is best to let Some invasive species have been introduced a professional remove this plant. CAUTION accidentally. Others started in gardens and then – Please seek additional information if you spread due to dumping of hanging baskets, are going to remove the plant yourself by garden waste or soil. visiting coquitlam.ca/hogweed and using the links to WorkSafe BC instructions.