Annuals & Perennials  Lake Tahoe = Zone 6 Annuals & Perennials  Lake Tahoe = Zone 6 Don’t Gardening green How to use this brochure he Lake Tahoe Basin offers a unique and challenging that rely on them. These ‘escapees’, also called invasive his brochure suggests safe alternatives for invasive You may consider removing Don’t Plant  Instead Try  Plant a gardening environment. Some plants that grow well plants, can become damaging wildland weeds that threaten ornamental plants. When you are buying new plants, invasive ornamentals Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa) Tin other areas may require extra water, fertilizers, and Lake Tahoe’s natural environment and biodiversity. In Cali- Tconsider whether the plant you pick may be invasive You may decide to remove invasive ornamentals that are soil amendments when growing at Tahoe. However, there fornia alone, it is estimated that more than half the plants in your area. Check out these alternatives, or ask your local already growing on your property, especially if your land is P T Pest! are many native and adapted plants that create wonderful affecting wildlands were originally introduced for landscap- nursery for other non-invasive plants. adjacent to a natural or open space area. Small, yellow buttercup-like flowers bloom in June and continue to displays of color and texture. Despite the late spring, short ing purposes. Some of the species listed (either their seeds or plant brighten your garden until the first frost in the fall. This hardy, low- growing season, and lack of precipitation throughout the Think about why you might plant one of the Give them an inch parts) have been brought home, not from the nursery, but maintenance, deciduous shrub is an excellent addition to a butterfly problem plants in the first place. and they’ll take summer, a variety of native and adapted plants, including By choosing suitable replacements for a few from nearby wildlands where they have invaded. It is very garden. problem plants, we can save ourselves trouble and Is it just for the way it looks, how long it blooms, or how easy an acre… ornamentals from around the world, can thrive in Tahoe important NOT to pick and bring home plants for your garden Harrison’s yellow rose (Rosa harisonii) gardens. expense in our gardens and help protect Lake it is to maintain? If so, finding a replacement is often easy! that you find while hiking in natural areas. For example, Dal- In searching for ideal ornamental plants, sometimes Tahoe’s natural environment at the same time Some of the alternatives listed here are selected specifically matian toadflax has a very pretty flower but once it becomes P Dalmation toadflax we find that seemingly perfect plants refuse to stay where for their similar appearance and ease of care. Or maybe you established, it will be very difficult to remove and will quickly A fragrant, semi-double yellow rose that blooms profusely in the spring. they are planted, and begin to invade adjacent areas. When Garden escapees like Klamathweed (a.k.a. St. John- need a plant to fill a functional role, such as a groundcover move into areas outside the garden. It is robust and disease resistant, with rich, green fern-like foliage that forms a hedge. a garden plant escapes into a natural habitat, it can quickly swort) and Scotch broom may have desirable characteristics that grows well in a shady place, or for erosion control on crowd out fragile native plants and harm beneficial species in a garden setting, but outside the garden, these plants sites that are in full sun. The alternatives listed here thrive in Both native and non-native plants have been Oregon grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium) displace native wildlife and plant communities, alter natural the same environment as the problem plants while offering recommended as alternatives in this brochure. A Annual Brooms: Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), Spanish T processes, and create fire danger. Gardeners don’t plant added benefits including lower water consumption, reduced Care has been taken to ensure that none of the recommend- P Scotch Broom broom (Spartium junceum), French broom (Genista B Biennial invasive species intentionally. In fact, most garden plants be- fertilizer use, and wildlife habitat. Many of these alternatives This tall, erect shrub has striking yellow flower clusters that are fol- ed non-natives is currently an invasive weed in the Lake monspessulana) lowed by blue berries. Holly-like leaves adorn this broad-leaf ever- P Perennial have perfectly well in their intended roles. It is important to are readily available, though others may be easiest to find in Tahoe Basin. However, plants can adapt over time, and there green. These problem Full Sun learn about the specific garden conditions on your property specialty or native plant nurseries. is no guarantee that some of these plants will not become C CA

plants are Partial Shade and choose native and adapted plants that thrive in those pests in your yard in the future. These 3 brooms have a similar appearance with numerous yel- invasive! Full Shade conditions without becoming invasive. This brochure will low, pea-like flowers that develop into seed pods. They are woody help you choose wisely. shrubs that can grow up to 10 feet tall. Monopolizing acres at a Drought Tolerant If you notice one of these alternative Oxeye Daisy ornamentals invading natural areas… time, the brushy material creates a serious fire hazard. Low Water Requirement  The alternatives listed here thrive in the Notify the California Invasive Plant Council: Moderate Water Requirement Many of the characteristics that make a plant a good choice same environment as the problem plants for the garden may also make it a successful invader: www.cal-ipc.org High Water Requirement while offering added benefits including The problem plants listed in this brochure Pay close attention to plant scientific names, since a few Some of the alternatives listed here are T TRPA Recommended Plant List Garden Plants Invasive Plants lower water consumption, reduced have escaped from garden and landscape of our recommended plants may have invasive relatives selected specifically for their similar fertilizer use, and wildlife habitat. C California IPC Weed List settings in the Tahoe Basin, and are — some even occur in the same genus. appearance and ease of care. threatening neighboring wildlands. CA California Noxious Weed List Easy to propagate Broad germination Establish rapidly Colonizer NV Nevada Noxious Weed List Mature early Mature early Potentilla LT Lake Tahoe Basin Native Abundant flowers Produce prolific seeds Pest / disease tolerant Few natural predators LAKE TAHOE BASIN VERSION Don’t Annuals & Perennials  Lake Tahoe = Zone 6 Annuals & Perennials  Lake Tahoe = Zone 6 Annuals & Perennials  Lake Tahoe = Zone 6 Annuals & Perennials  Lake Tahoe = Zone 6 Annuals & Perennials  Lake Tahoe = Zone 6 Annuals & Perennials  Lake Tahoe = Zone 6 Plant a Don’t Plant  Instead Try  Don’t Plant  Instead Try  Don’t Plant  Instead Try 

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) Susanna Mitchell (Anthemis tinctoria) Sulfur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) Pest! Dalmatian toadflax

Lake Tahoe Basin Version Produced by: B P P T LT Lake Tahoe Basin Weed Coordinating Group Soft green foliage supports spikes of radiant, tubular flowers. They These flowers brighten any garden with a non-stop display all A mass of yellow flowers bloom in early summer and the foliage Tahoe Resource Conservation District are ideal for cut flowers and butterfly gardens. summer long. The fern-like, silvery green leaves are fragrant when remains green through winter. This drought-tolerant, low-mainte- University of Nevada Cooperative Extension crushed. nance shrub prefers poor soil. University of California Cooperative Extension This edition of the “Don’t Plant a Pest” brochure was adapted from the Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis or S. californica) original version developed by the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) Michaelmas daisy (Aster novi-belgii) Gold coin dwarf (Achillea filipendulina) Funding provided by: P LT California Department of Food and Agriculture This late–blooming perennial is an important source of nectar for P P Tahoe Resource Conservation District honeybees. Plants grow in tight colonies and flowers produce a One of many cultivars, the ‘White Climax’ variety has large, brilliant Accompanied by fragrant leaves, this yarrow has long–blooming golden glow in the fall. flowers that provide nectar in the fall. The dark green foliage can mustard–yellow flowers. It is tolerant of hot, dry conditions and is To report invasive plants, call: grow 2 feet tall and has contrasting wine-colored veins. considered a good choice for beginning gardeners. El Dorado County, Agricultural Commissioner (530) 621- 5520 Common yellow monkey flower (Mimulus guttatus) Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) Douglas County, Douglas County Weed District Moonshine yarrow (Achillea x moonshine) (775) 782-9835 C A P T LT Nevada County, Agricultural Commissioner This invasive white daisy is becoming an increasing problem in the P (530) 273-2648 Toadflaxes: Dalmatian toadflax(Linaria genistifolia The intense yellow flowers have reddish spots in the throat. They West. It spreads readily from gardens to meadows and other open, Placer County, Agricultural Commissioner ssp. dalmatica) or Yellow toadflax(Linaria vulgaris) are naturally found in wet areas, enabling them to bloom from May This semi-evergreen shrub has long been a favorite among garden- (530) 889-7372 through September. sunny areas. It is often found in wildflower seed mixes. ers. Rounded heads of tiny, lemon-yellow flowers and bright silver foliage light up the garden. Washoe County, UNR Cooperative Extension CA NV (775) 784-4848 Both species have erect and branched stems bearing yellow flowers yellow snapdragon For more information on invasive and that resemble snapdragons. Yellow toadflax is also called ‘butter Klamathweed (Hypericum perforatum) native plants, call: and eggs’, and is typically shorter than Dalmatian toadflax. Their Instead Try  Lake Tahoe Basin Weed Coordinating Group highly aggressive root systems spread rapidly into natural forest CA NV Sue Donaldson, Chair (775) 784-4848 areas and meadows. Shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum x superbum; Also known as St. Johnswort, this perennial grows erect to 3 feet Tahoe Resource Conservation District Leucanthemum x superbum) Invasive Weed Program (530) 543-1501 tall and is topped with bright yellow flowers. It survives year-round due to a vigorous root system that directly competes with native Also visit: P T vegetation. It is toxic to horses and livestock. Dalmatian toadflax, an invasive California Invasive Plant Council Perky flowers bloom profusely from mid-summer through fall. This www.cal-ipc.org ornamental plant, has already escaped in hardy perennial requires very little attention and attracts birds and The Nature Conservancy many basin neighborhoods, pushing out butterflies. http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu native plants and ruining habitat. California Department of Food and Agriculture www.cdfa.ca.gov Moonshine yarrow National Invasive Species Council Shasta daisy www.invasivespecies.gov