California group takes new approach against an invasive plant

From AmericanHort's Craig Regelbrugge

For several years, a California-based initiative known as PlantRight has sought common-ground, common-sense solutions to invasive plant concerns. The consensus based process has focused its energies on approaches where conservationists, native plant enthusiasts, commercial horticulture, and government stakeholders have found agreement. Voluntary phase-outs of high-consequence species, and risk assessment for new plant introductions have been key areas of focus.

In a new twist, PlantRight is attempting to head off a new horticultural invasive threat to California in the form of Mexican feathergrass, Nassella tenuissima. The new approach is based on an information and fundraising campaign to purchase and destroy now-limited inventories of the plant in the production and distribution chain. The hope is because this is a new plant introduction, it has not been widely sold, and the introducer of the plant is willing to cooperate.

The fundraising campaign ends July 18.