Why Eliminate Invasive Plants from Guide to PLANT WISE Gardening INVASIVE - AVOID USE your Garden 4 Make good choices. Purchase and grow non-invasive DAME’S ROCKET AVOID PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE AVOID HIMALAYAN BALSAM AVOID COMMON BABY’S AVOID (AKA LYTHRUM ‘MORDEN PINK’, ‘MORDEN GLEAM’) (AKA HIMALAYAN ORCHID, POLICEMAN’S HELMET) plants. Select the right plant for the right place. Hesperis matronalis Some plants from other parts of the globe, originally Lythrum salicaria Impatiens glandulifera BREATH introduced as garden flowers, for landscapes, or for their 4 Replace existing invasive plants in your garden with Often confused with garden phlox Referred to as “the beautiful killer”. Tall Fast growing annual. Impressive size, Gypsophila paniculata medicinal or food value, have jumped the garden fence non-invasive plants (5 petals; opposite leaves), Dame’s rocket strong purple spires. Takes over ponds, rapidly out-competes plants in riparian Ornamental perennial used in floral (4 petals; alternate leaves) is a prolific seed to become invasive in the natural environment. Invasive beaches, marshes, farm dugouts, irrigation areas and along shorelines. Orchid shaped arrangements. In winter, stems break 4 Properly dispose of invasive plants. Remove invasive producer. Flowers are magenta to pink canals. A mature plant can produce 2.5 flower resembles a British policeman’s off, blowing around in the wind, like plants are spread, intentionally and unintentionally, by plants before they flower to prevent seed spread. Either or white. Found in “wildflower” mixes. million seeds. Ornamental cultivars are helmet. Seed capsules explode, tumbleweeds, spreading seed to pastures people and their activities. They have no natural predators Especially problematic near woodlands. very fertile when cross pollinated. Copious catapulting seeds 6 metres. Shallow roots and natural areas. Widespread infestations burn them or bag them for landfill disposal. Never R. Mueller Hanna D. Hanna D. Leekie J. to stop their spread so they survive, thrive, and dominate, dispose of invasive plants “over the fence” in natural pollen sources for wild plants. make it easily controlled by hand-pulling. across Canada and northern United States. in the wild. Accidental or intentional, these invaders cause areas or parks. Never compost invasive plants! not only environmental and habitat degradation, but social NATIVE & ORNAMENTAL ALTERNATIVES NATIVE & ORNAMENTAL ALTERNATIVES NATIVE & ORNAMENTAL ALTERNATIVES NATIVE & ORNAMENTAL ALTERNATIVES and economic loss as well. Their growth and rapid spread 4 Check reliable local sources before you plant. Do your is detrimental to native plants and damages natural areas, research. Ask your local garden centre or ask a local David’s Lavender Garden Tall Larkspur Smooth Blue Beard-Tongue; German Statice rangelands, parks, watersheds and lakes. They threaten the horticulture expert. Check out www.abinvasives.ca Phlox Delphinium glaucum Shining Penstemon Goniolimon tataricum Phlox paniculata Penstemon nitidus biodiversity of our native habitat and endanger wildlife. 4 Trade only plants and seeds you know are non-invasive. ‘David’s Lavender’ Alberta native. Rising from a woody Prickly heads of tiny white flowers. Stunning lavender-pink blossoms on rootstock, this stout, tall perennial has Alberta native. A beautiful small species Low rosettes of leathery green leaves. 4 While only about 10% of introduced ornamental plants Consider native plants.Use local suppliers only. Check tall stocks. Fragrant. Blooms mid to deeply cut leaves, and both stem and with very gray, glaucous foliage and spikes Branching heads of flowers bloom July BCLNA leaves have a grayish, waxy covering. – August. For rock gardens, xeriscaping, actually become invasive, effective action needs to be out the Alberta Native Plant Council www.anpc.ab.ca late summer. Highly mildew resistant. of beautiful sky-blue flowers in May and Deer resistant. Attracts hummingbirds, Spikes of deep blue to purple flowers up to June. Zone: 3 edging or containers. Excellent as fresh taken to avoid planting the ones that do. Choosing suitable 4 Avoid collecting pretty “wildflowers” from roadsides butterflies. Other varieties such as ‘Flame 30 cm tall. Zone: 3 or dried flowers. Popular for wreaths. alternatives can help prevent future spread and serve to or natural areas. Many are highly aggressive invasive Blue’ also available. Zone: 3 Dow Gardens Smith M. T. Tannery Attracts butterflies. CAUTION: All plant S. Collet parts poisonous if eaten. Zone: 3 protect and preserve Alberta’s natural environment. plants. Allow true native plants to thrive in their natural Ht. 106 cm; W. 38-45 cm Ht.90-180 cm; W. 45-60 cm Ht. 20-30 cm; W. 15-25 cm Ht. 25-40 cm; W. 30-45 cm setting. Purple Smoke Baptisia Floristan Violet / Blazing Gas Plant Yarrow Against the Law 4 Avoid pre-packaged wildflower mixes unless contents Baptisia australis‘Purple Smoke’ Star (aka Gayfeather) Dictamus albus var. purpureus Achillea millefolium are identified and contain only non-invasive species. Hybrid. Tall, bushy mound of grey-green Liatris spicata ‘Floristan Violet’ Long-lived, unique perennial. Lemon Alberta native. Herbaceous perennial with 4 Encourage others to plant non-invasive plants and to foliage. Long spikes of smoky violet-blue Selected from a native prairie wildflower. scented, glossy green leaves. Bushy, broad, flattened heads of flowers and It is against the law to grow any of the invasive plants and purple flowers on black stems. Good upright clumps. Spikes of spidery-looking feathery leaves. Commercial cultivars with featured. The Alberta Weed Control Act was put in place replace existing invasive plants. Tall spikes, bright magenta-purple flowers. R. Mueller substitute for Lupines. Excellent cut-flower. Blossoms in midsummer. Useful in sunny mauve-pink flowers. Flowers early varying flower colours are available. Zone: 3 to protect Alberta. Find factsheets on all regulated plants, 4 Use mulches and/or ground covers in open garden Attracts butterflies. Zone: 3 border, meadow gardens, or containers. summer. Worthwhile for cutting. Attracts AVOID USE Noxious and Prohibited Noxious, at www.abinvasives.ca Commercial cut flower. Attractive to butterflies. Zone: 2 (Invasive) areas to prevent invasive plants from establishing R. Channon R. butterflies. Zone: 3 Klooster W. Leekie J. 4 The introduction and spread of invasive alien species is Report location of invasive plants to local weed inspector. Ht. 90-120 cm; W. 60-90 cm Ht. 75-95 cm; W. 35-45 cm Ht. 60-90 cm; W. 45-60 cm Ht. 60-90 cm; W. 60-90 cm Dame’s Rocket Hesperis matronalis affecting Canada’s environment, economy and society, Southcombe Double Karl Foerster Feather Cardinal Flower Russian Sage including human health. The current threats posed by Cranesbill Reed Grass Lobelia cardinalis Perovskia atriplicilfolia existing and potentially invasive alien species are significant This guide shows you what plants to avoid and examples of good, non- N. Bakker Geranium oxonianum ‘Southcombe Double’ Calamagrostis acutifolia‘Karl Foerster’ and growing at an alarming rate. It is essential for Canada invasive alternatives to consider for your Alberta garden. Choose the An eastern North American native Upright bush. Fragrant, grey-green foliage. herbaceous perennial that grows well Lavender blue blossoms. Flowers July GROW ME INSTEAD David’s Lavender to address invasive alien species. Canada needs to take right plant for the right place. Unusual double flowers with layers of 2001 Perennial of the Year. Strong upright (Ornamental) Garden Phlox bright pink petals. Blooms from June to feature. Tall spikes, soft greenish flowers, in wet or even boggy soils. Flowers are to October. Good for cut flowers/dry (Phlox paniculata measures to protect and conserve natural resources, August. A true geranium. Versatile and turning rose, then straw-coloured. brilliant vermillion red, produced through arrangements. Attracts butterflies. Zone: 4 ‘David’s Lavender’) This booklet references the associated industries, as well as the health of wildlife and United States Department nearly carefree. Compact plants excellent Welcome winter accent. Zone: 3 summer into fall on flowering stalks a humans. of Agriculture (USDA) for edging and borders. Zone: 4 metre in height. Cultivars with green or J. Ruter bronze-purple leaves and white or pink Lewis C. Dow Gardens Grow Me Instead profiles are recommended —An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada, September 2004 Hardiness Zone System, flowers are available. Zone: 2 alternatives to Alberta’s most unwanted and reflects knowledge and Ht. 30-40 cm; W. 30-60 cm Foliage Ht. 90-120 cm; Flower Ht. 150-200 cm; W. 60-90 cm Ht. 60-120 cm; W. 30-60 cm Ht. 80-100 cm; W. 60-90 cm experience of the Alberta horticultural plants nursery industry. ALSO CONSIDER: Autumn Joy Sedum (Sedum x ‘Autumn Joy’), ALSO CONSIDER: Spike Speedwell (Veronica spicata), Zone 3; ALSO CONSIDER: Blue Boy Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘Blue ALSO CONSIDER: Hewitt’s Double Meadow Rue (Thalictrum Zone 2. Blood-red Iris (Iris sanguinea), Zone 4; and Wilson’s Ligularia Boy’), Zone 3; Blue columbine (Aquilegia brevistyla) Alberta native, delavayi ‘Hewitt’s Double), Zone 3; White Meadowsweet spirea (Ligularia wilsoniana), Zone 2. Zone 3; Candale larkspur (Delphinium elatum), Zone 2; and Pink (Spiraea betuifolia), an Alberta native, Zone 3; Sea lavender A Guide for Alberta 2015 turtle (Chelone lyonii, C. oblique), Zone 3. (Limonium latifolium), Zone 3; and Pussytoes (Rosy: Antennaria rosa,