Point well taken, Wade, and I’m sure Ronald and I agree with you about the environment-changing non-native plants. Although I admit, I certainly couldn’t give a list of such plants in my area. Ignorance is, unfortunately, bliss. But, I do know of a few and I take responsibility for researching what I plant.
Most local non-native plants of which I am aware are not dangerous to the ecosystem if properly contained. Too often these plants get away from their intended spot in a garden and are more of a nuisance than a threat.
Like the one you mentioned, we have such gathering parties here for invasive plants, mostly for air potatoes. The efforts were so successful, air potatoes are no longer a problem here, although they continue to be problematic in other areas of Florida:
Our Florida Everglades is a case-in-point for invasive plant control. Such a delicate ecosystem is threatened by what doesn’t belong there, and that includes wildlife such as Burmese pythons:
We have a similar problem with our Payne’s Prairie — also a tender ecosystem that requires constant monitoring and mitigation:
For me, I was writing about mostly landscaping plants and I apologize for not making that clear. I know people who refuse to have a non-native ornamental plant in their yard, even if the plant is not harmful or unlikely to escape beyond the property boundaries. I admire the concept of only native plants but don’t think it’s always practical or necessary. Many non-natives plants have made their homes in Florida in yards, and even some in the wild, without damaging anything. In fact, many of the loveliest plants now thought of as Floridian came from somewhere else and adapted well to our environment.
As with most anything, it comes down to responsibility. Don’t plant anything until you research it. Contain what you plant — don’t let it travel beyond your property — as was the case with a huge, lovely vine that someone in my townhome community planted in their patio area and didn’t contain. Soon the vine was everywhere.
Probably the most notorious invasive vine in the Southern U.S. is kudzu:
When I lived in Georgia in the 70s, it was a complete menace, killing millions of trees by suffocation.
So, yes, you are correct. We must protect our delicate environments of flora and fauna that may harm them. And, that means governmental and personal responsibility for what we allow in our borders and what we propagate on our lands.
