G roundcovers & Perennials G roundcove rs & Perennials G roundcove rs & Perennials G a rdening green Many of the characteristics that make a G roundcove rs plant a good choice for the garden may Instead of periwinkle, wild ginger also make it a successful invader: & Perennials DON’T PLAN T: English ivy or Algerian ivy, (Asarum caudatum) Don’t California is a gardener’s dream. Our mild climate allows A California native, this Garden Plants Invasive Plants us to have fantastic gardens, showcasing a wide variety periwinkle evergreen groundcover has Easy to propagate Broad germination T RY THESE VARIETIES: of ornamental plants from DON’T PLAN T: (Vinca major) heart-shaped leaves and unusual Establish rapidly Colonizer all around the world. This aggressive grower pachysandra maroon flowers. Mature early Mature early iceplant or Hottentot fig Howitt, © 1999 Beatrice F. Calif. Academy of Sciences has trailing stems that Plant a But sometimes, our Abundant flowers Prolific seeds (Carpobrotus edulis) (Pachysandra terminalis) root wherever they touch bear’s foot hellebore garden plants “jump the Pest / disease tolerant Few natural predators Small mammals can carry seeds of Grows more slowly than Vinca the soil. This ability to and Hedera, but has a crisp, (Helleborus foetidus) fence” and invade natural iceplant from landscape settings to resprout from stem areas. These invasive nearby coastal dunes and other neat growth form. New foliage Unusual foliage and delicate, Invasive plants are by nature a regional problem. A plant fragments enables is bright green, changing to complex flowers. The intriguing plants can become serious sensitive areas. The vigorous Alfred Brousseau, © 1995 Br. College Saint Mary’s that jumps out of the garden in one climate and habitat periwinkle to spread Pest! wildland weeds that groundcover forms impenetrable mats dark green with age. Variegated pale green and purple flowers rapidly in shady creeks and drainages, smothering the type may behave perfectly in another. The problem plants Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden threaten California’s that compete directly with native cultivars are available. often have a pleasant fragrance. listed here have escaped from gardens throughout the native plant community. biodiversity and economy. vegetation, including several rare and Central Coast. Serbian bellflower Corsican hellebore threatened plants along the coast. © 1998 Charles Webber California Academy of Sciences Give them an inch Vinca has escaped from (Campanula poscharskyana) or Lenten rose Over half of the plants San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau Courtesy Mark Souder, How to use this brochure: landscaped areas into wildland Produces a profusion of lilac-blue, Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden currently damaging Instead of iceplant or Hot tentot fig, (H. argutifolius or H. orientalis) French broom invades This brochure suggests safe alternatives for these plants. habitats throughout the Central star-shaped flowers spring to fall. and they’ll ta ke California’s wildlands were Besides bear’s foot hellebore, there are several other parts of SLO County When you are buying new plants, consider these Coast, and due to its nursery Grows quickly and easily, but could originally introduced for T RY THESE VARIETIES: perennial hellebore species available that can grow well alternatives, or ask your local nursery for other non- availability there is the overwhelm a carefully manicured in Central Coast gardens. an acre... landscaping purposes. Garden escapes like pampasgrass hardy iceplant potential for increasing garden. invasive plants. If one of the invasive plants is already in Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden and French broom may have desirable characteristics in a Courtesy Ken Owen, Channel Islands Restoration your yard, especially if you live near wildlands, you may (Delosperma cooperi) problems associated with this Bergenia or winter saxifrage garden setting, but outside the garden these plants want to remove it and replace it with a recommended A non-invasive iceplant with commonly used groundcover. In the adjacent photo, ivory star jasmine or asian jasmine (Bergenia cordifolia and hybrids) displace native species and alter natural processes. alternative. Think about why you might plant one of the smaller, succulent leaves and volunteers hand remove vinca on habitat-rich Santa Cruz (Trachelospermum asiaticum) An evergreen groundcover, with large, dark green leaves, problem plants in the first place. Is it just for the way it brilliant violet-pink flowers May Island in Santa Barbara County. Vinca has invaded Has glossy, dark green leaves and clusters of bright, deep pink flowers. Some of these plants looks? If so, finding a replacement is often easy—some through October. Salt tolerant. several riparian areas and oak woodlands on the island, and pale yellow, pinwheel- show weedy tendencies David Fenwick © 2003 The African Garden of the alternatives listed here are selected especially for having escaped from a horticultural planting years ago. shaped flowers with a jasmine in the garden as well. their similar appearance. Or beach strawberry scent. For example, English ivy maybe you need a plant to fill a Other Potential Plant Pests can take over a yard and Full sun or wood strawberry English ivy or Algerian ivy functional role, such as a damage buildings and Part shade (Fragaria chiloensis or Fragaria vesca ssp. californica) (Hedera helix, H. caneriensis) evergreen currant The plant pests detailed in this brochure represent those groundcover that grows well in a fences. Likewise, when Full shade This perennial, evergreen groundcover When birds carry the seeds of these popular plants into (Ribes viburnifolium) invaders that have escaped in our area and are also shady place, or a border plant commonly found in nurseries. There are many other birds drop seeds near a Drought tolerant forms a lush, low-growing mat. Leaves wildlands, ivys can smother A low-growing evergreen shrub with fragrant, dark-green that likes full sun. Alternatives troublesome weeds found along the Central Coast that stream, English ivy can Low water are dark-green and glossy with a red forest trees and understory leaves. Can tolerate full sun along the coast but needs Courtesy John Randall, The Nature Conservancy were intentionally introduced into this area. In most cases, Photo by Brianna Richardson, 2003 listed here thrive in the same take over native tint in winter. Mow or cut back the plants by completely shading partial shade in the hotter, inland areas. Once estab- English ivy destroys forest environments as problem plants Moderate water it was years or even decades before these plants were vegetation and degrade plants in early spring to encourage them, which also prevents lished, evergreen currant does not need irrigation and is A dense stand of pampasgrass (Cortaderia selloana), understory vegetation while offering added benefits Regular water recognized as causing serious economic and ecological wildlife habitat. new growth. Chris Morris, SLO County Department of Agriculture regeneration of new tree and an excellent choice for growing under native oaks where damage to our local natural resources. a garden plant that has invaded California wildlands such as attracting wildlife. Many High water shrub seedlings. Ivy also supplemental watering is discouraged. of these alternatives are readily California native The list below includes additional garden plants that have Gardeners don’t plant invasive species intentionally. Like germander harbors pests, such as rats available, though others may be escaped into our local rangelands and wildlands. Although Deer resistant (Teucrium chamaedrys, or T. x lucidrys) Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden Suggested alternatives for invasive garden plants. other Californians, gardeners have a deep respect for our and snails. easiest to find in specialty or Fire resistant This plant can be sheared into a neat groundcover or giant alumroot or coral bells these are not often sold in nurseries any longer, it is state’s rich natural heritage. The good news is that most important to be aware of them and avoid planting them More information available at www.cal-ipc.org native plant nurseries. allowed to grow to full height (about one foot), and (Heuchera maxima and hybrids) garden plants behave perfectly well in their intended Ornamental ivy has already whenever possible. You may also consider removing them roles. By choosing suitable replacements for the few produces lavender flowers in the spring. Compact escaped in many local if they are already growing on your own property, especially problem plants, we can save ourselves trouble and Both native and non-native plants have been recommended as cultivars are available. areas, causing severe This evergreen groundcover has if your land is adjacent to a natural or open space area. alternatives in this brochure. Care has been taken to ensure that expense in our garden and help to protect the natural problems for our native heart-shaped leaves and tiny, bell- none of the recommended non-natives is invasive. However, plants showy dewflower or rosea iceplant Other Invasive Garden Plants: Arundo/Giant Reed Central Coast Version California landscape at the same time. can adapt over time, and there is no guarantee that some of these habitats. In this photo, shaped, pink and white flowers that (Drosanthemum floribundum) (Arundo donax), Cape Ivy (Delairea odorata), Fennel Cove ring San Luis Obispo plants will not themselves become pests in the future. If you notice English ivy invades Arroyo hang gracefully from thin stalks. (Foeniculum vulgare), Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus one of these alternatives invading natural areas, notify Cal-IPC. Pay A succulent with silver-gray leaves and an abundance of Grande Creek, smothering There are many hybrid varieties & Santa Barbara Counties close attention to plant names, since a few of our recommended altissima), and Salt Cedar/Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.). pink flowers. Requires little or no water, especially along trees and crowding out available with a wide range of leaf plants may have invasive relatives—even in the same genus. the coast. Tolerates some salt spray. vegetation along the banks. Courtesy El Nativo Growers, Inc.