The popular Butterfly Bush, Buddleja davidii, has proven to be a weed. Found growing in natural areas far from any garden, Buddleja’s seeds are dispersed by the wind. Oregon and Washington both list it as a noxious weed.
What is a butterfly loving gardener to do? Try Blue Mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Black Knight’ ) as a blue/purple, summer flowing shrub substitute or at least only grow the named Buddleja cultivars or the species Buddleja globosa which may be less of a threat.
A list of the best books, articles and websites on invasive plants.
“The overall objective of Invasive.org is: to provide an accessible and easily used archive of high quality images related to invasive and exotic species, with particular emphasis on educational applications.”
View Federal and state noxious weed lists, an invasive plant list, or an introduced plant list, each with links to more information.
A photo database of invasive plants, plant diseases and harmful insects, plus biological control agents providing “an accessible and easily used archive of high quality images…with an emphasis on educational applications.” Images are available to download for non-profit and educational purposes.
“Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas is a web-based project of the Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group, that provides information for the general public, land managers, researchers, and others on the serious threat and impacts of invasive alien (exotic, non-native) plants to the native flora, fauna, and natural ecosystems of the United States.”
“Gateway to invasive species information; covering Federal, State, local, and international sources.”
The U.S. National Arboretum’s web pages on invasive plants offer, by state, resources for identification of noxious weeds, the laws and procedures pertaining to a plant’s becoming listed and many other web resources related to education about invasive plants.
Invasive Plant Conference proceedings. The mission of the conference was to create strategies and partnerships to understand and manage invasions of non-native plants in the Pacific Northwest. The audience included over 180 professionals, students, and citizens from public and private organizations responsible for monitoring, studying, or managing non-native invasive plants. This proceedings includes twenty-seven papers based on oral presentations at the conference plus a synthesis paper that summarizes workshop themes, discussions, and related information. Topics include early detection and rapid response; control techniques, biology, and impacts; management approaches; distribution and mapping of invasive plants; and partnerships, education, and outreach.
“The UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants is a multidisciplinary research, teaching and extension unit directed to develop environmentally sound techniques for the management of aquatic and natural area weed species and to coordinate aquatic plant research activities within the State of Florida.”