There are many different wonderful plants used for a variety of purposes from ornamental to aquarium plants to plants that can be harvested and foraged etc. Unfortunately some of those plants can be quite invasive and cause more issues than they are worth.
Some of our most destructive invasives such as European Frogbit and Japanese Knotweed spread due to planting for ornamental value or irresponsible disposal of aquatic plants. For this reason, doing research on any plant you plan on incorporating into your home ecosystem or aquarium is of utmost importance.
Not only is doing research on the specific plant important, but if ordering plants online such as trees or other yard plants, sometimes invasive pests can also be transported with the plant. Spotted Lantern-fly being one pest spread through plant transportation. So checking where your plants are coming from as well as what pests are local to that area is incredibly helpful in preventing the spread of invasive species.
Additionally, there are many plants within Michigan alone which are prohibited from sale and use and if caught planting, distributing, or even possessing these plants can result in a fine or even jail time.
So, the next time you are considering re-landscaping your yard, consider doing research on the plants you’d like to incorporate so as to prevent another invasive species from taking over our lovely native ecosystem.
