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InvestigatesSoil InvadersINVASIVE PLANTS PLAY havoc with the environment, causing species to go extinct and damaging ecosystems.
Despite this, if you walk into many garden centres and shops in Ireland, you will be able to buy them and take them home.
Cherry laurel is a common choice for hedging. The butterfly bush, with its popular lilac flowers, is often touted as being good for biodiversity. Montbretia’s orange flowers are a common sight in gardens across Ireland.
But these three species all share one thing: they are invasive.
Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) grows rapidly, preventing other plants from regenerating. It contains cyanide so is also poisonous for grazing animals.
Montbretia (Crocosmia X crocosmiflora) forms a thick ground cover that suffocates other plants. Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) plants spread quickly through millions of tiny seeds, taking over habitats and reducing biodiversity.
Ecologists have long criticised management of invasive species in Ireland, including Ireland’s ‘slow reaction’ to the issue.
On Wednesday, we published findings from our Soil Invaders investigation, which highlighted that millions are being spent by councils each year to deal with invasive species, but they are still spreading in many parts of the country.
In July, new legislation on invasive species implementing EU law came into effect.
The new regulation, which was introduced by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), makes it illegal to sell and release into the environment a list of 77 invasive species “of national concern” including rhododendron, Spanish bluebell, sika deer and grey squirrel.
“These regulations update and strengthen existing legislative provisions around invasive alien species in Ireland and are now being implemented,” a spokesperson for the NPWS told The Journal Investigates.
However, invasive species such as cherry laurel, montbretia and the butterfly bush are not included in the Irish list, meaning they can still legally be sold.
Other plants popular in gardens like old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba), pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) and Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) are also invasive but not banned from sale in Ireland.
This issue of being able to buy such species so easily was highlighted by An Taisce in The Journal as far back as 2013. When asked about the continued sale of cherry laurel, montbretia and the butterfly bush, Dr Elaine McGoff, head of advocacy with An Taisce said:
It’s time to join the dots, and stop the problem of invasive species at source. It’s a no brainer.
Referring to our investigation this week on the cost of invasive species management, she said that “it beggars belief” that county councils are “spending vast sums every year to control invasive species”, yet some can still be bought.
“We can’t expect the Irish public to do their due diligence before buying a plant in a local garden centre.
“It should be a given that if it’s for sale in a shop, then it’s safe for use and will not further add to the problem of invasive species which are decimating our precious biodiversity.”
A rewilding charity in Mayo, the Gaelic Woodland Project, has been campaigning in recent years for a ban on the sale of cherry laurel in particular.
“It is astonishing that the sale of such a highly invasive species is still allowed while our country tethers on the edge of biodiversity collapse,” director Oisín O’Neill wrote last year in relation to a government public consultation.
The new regulation “applies to species of EU concern and those of national concern”, a NPWS spokesperson told us. It stops the “trade of a range of harmful species and further efforts nationwide to protect native habitats and species”.
The law does allow for “emergency measures to be introduced for species which are not included” on the EU list, but “any such emergency measures must be given careful consideration and be subject to scientific advice”, the spokesperson said.
These lists and laws related to invasive species vary depending on what plants are of concern in EU countries.
For instance, the butterfly bush is banned from sale in Spain, the trade of cherry laurel is banned in Switzerland and it is illegal to plant montbretia in the wild in Scotland as well as in England and Wales.
If you are out shopping for plants to take home, the National Biodiversity Data Centre offers a range of resources on pollinator-friendly plants that won’t play havoc on our ecosystems, including species and guidelines for gardens.
The fight against invasive plants is costing councils millions. Read now >>
Reporter: Anthea Lacchia • Editor & Additional Reporting: Maria Delaney • Main Image Design: Lorcan O’Reilly • Social Media: Sadbh Cox
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That’s crazy. Given how hard the good folk of Connemara and Kerry have worked to curtail invasive plants, you’d think that their sale would be controlled somehow.
Garden center owners should know better.
@Pól Pot: Actually, not a funeral. He’ll be definitely up to go to that. Say you’re catching a meeting in the rooms. No way Mel will follow ye there.
@Pól Pot: dafuq U on about tool?
A list with photos would help please.
@Acumen: You can search for plants and animals here and, for the most part, if they are invasive they are marked as such under ‘Designations’: https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/Species
Ahh these garden centre owners! When they’re not importing crystal meth, they’re importing invasive plants!
@Pól Pot: Looks like someone’s been to their local garden centre again. And you weren’t buying plants!
If you’re planning on growing mint, plant it in a pot..it’ll run all over the place otherwise.
I contacted the Clonmel Co Co 2 years ago about a very large invasion of Hogweed growing beside the river Suir. Nothing was done. I also contacted a councilor from Cahir about same. He arranged a ingenieur straight away. After that nothing was done.
If they are not interested why should I.
@hans vos: No wonder nothing was done, there’s no such organisation as Clonmel Co Co.
@Rob Goodbody: really?
@hans vos: government doesn’t care about invasive plants cant get them to deal with problems like cost living . Hogwort cant be cut comes back 100 times worst.
@Rob Goodbody: Tipperary Co Co based in Clonmel.
Difficult to understand if you have no comprehension skills I presume.
Li@l was selling Rhododendron
Quite big business in eradicating invasive plants now. It is difficult though. Japanese knotweed is seriously difficult to treat with just herbicide so you’ve got to hollow out the soil it grows on to a depth of 2 cubic meters to be sure. That’s alot of earth moving, plus that soil is now contaminated, so where can you place it?
You should have a look at the amount of invasive plants that are included in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan. As a landscape architect, when I complete a landscape plan, I reference the All Ireland Pollinator Plan in my reports, but cross reference this with the National Biodiversity Data Centre Invasive Species. Buddleja being the most glaring example.
I certainly do. Mel Gibson and I have been up all night in a heightened state of artistic hysteria pounding out a script on the typewriter. As of this moment, we’ve no replies from all the big studios whom we emailed our synopsis. Their loss. Mel says he has just about enough quids to make it independently (though I suspect he’s either lying or delusional). In fairness were both in a proper state, so I’m not gonna pull him up on it. I’m not getting into a ruck with Mel. Lovely dude but capable of turning 100 per cent violent, and I’m in no condition.
At any rate, Jim Caviezel said he’ll probably take the lead. He has royalties from that recent mad film he did. We’ll get some startup money out of him with an incomprehensible contract promising points from the profits and VHS rentals. He’s fairly naive. Jim will play a fern the entire movie dialogue will be in plant languages that is, volatile organic compounds, electrical signalling, and common mycorrhizal networks. See ye all at the Oscars.
@Pól Pot: and the action sequences to be shot in plant-growth motion time?
I’m there! This will be a game changer!
@Pól Pot: What’s it gonna be called ” Lethal hedging 3 “
@Sea Spirit: featuring Meryl Streep as japanese knot weed.
@Sea Spirit: Totally underestimated Jim. The chap wants nothing to do with us. Just blocked us on WhatsApp. Last message read, “Jesus and I love you unconditionally, but we’re not going to be enablers to this behaviour.” I’m coming down fast and having reread the script, it’s s not as profound as it appeared only an hour ago. Strange as now it’s incomprehensible. There’s no third act and the fern’s trajectory ends up exactly as it was on page 1. Mel has begun forging “original lyrics sheets” of classic hit and putting them on Ebay 4 funding. Totally sneaking out of here now. That’s serious crime. Love you, Mel, but you’re a every few years minimum kind of mate. Complete chaos. We’ll lose everything again and have to start from scratch. Too old 2 be begging associates for a night on sofas.
@Sea Spirit: Mel wants “The Resurrection of the Burning Bush.” I don’t get it. I lose track when he goes off on rants. I don’t care now either. My main concern is get him to unlock the door so i can try get a hostel. Mel is being quite aggressive and screaming about things missing off the coffee table. He’s mad. We ran out hours ago.
No surprise, easiest and cheapest is always the most popular here.
Oh no… how will I sleep tonight??
I find the most useful of the invasive plant species are triffids. Got annoying neighbours? Just sneakily throw a few seeds into their back yard.
Yes, i did, just bought some Japanese know weed to plant in Northern Ireland.
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