John Nitta, owner of High Ranch Nursery in Loomis, Calif., decided to stop growing and selling Cortaderia selloana (pampas grass), Cytisus scoparius (Scotch broom cultivars); Pennisetum setaceum (crimson fountain grass); Hedera spp. (all English and Algerian ivy cultivars); Cotoneaster lacteal (Parney’s cotoneaster); and Sapium sebiferum (Chinese tallow tree).
Nitta wrote on his blog:
Over the years, The California Invasive Plant Council, or IPC, has a definition for “invasive non-native plants that threaten wildlands.” These plants in turn are then classified into ratings of “high,” “moderate,” and “limited.” In studying the council’s listing of “invasive non-native plants that threaten wildlands,” I discovered several on the list that we should not be growing, and made a choice to discontinue six products. I determined these six because of their potential as being invasive to regions that we deliver our products to. Now, when I say that “I determined …” I mean to say that’s it’s strictly a choice of myself as a grower. That’s because I discovered there’s no law that bans me, or any other grower, from producing these plants.
I’m hoping other growers will make these tough choices as well.
California nursery drops invasive plants
Six plants are on the chopping block.