The golden flowers of French broom covering hillsides and the tall, striking stalks of pampasgrass stand out on trails and roadsides. These plants may be beautiful, but they are invasive and harm California’s natural landscapes.
Invasive plants outcompete and crowd out native plants, damaging wildlife habitat and reducing biodiversity. They can cause many serious problems for humans. For instance, giant reed (or arundo), is a bamboolike plant that grows densely along rivers and other waterways. It uses large amounts of water and obstructs flood control channels. Giant reed’s tall stalks are highly flammable, increasing the likelihood and intensity of local wildfires.
How do invasive plants spread?
Although they can disperse naturally by wind, water, and animals, human activity is the most common way invasive plants spread to new areas. French broom, pampasgrass, and giant reed were all originally brought to California for use in ornamental landscaping and erosion control. Once they are brought to a new area, invasive plants can grow and multiply rapidly on their own and can be very difficult to control.
People also move invasive plants by accident. If you have ever found seeds stuck to your socks after a hike, you may have unintentionally given one a free ride. Prevention is the best approach when it comes to invasive plant management, and there are many ways you can help.
How can you prevent the spread of invasive plants?
- Use plants native to your area in your landscaping. Visit the California Invasive Plant Council’s Don’t Plant a Pest webpage and PlantRight.org to find region-specific lists of invasive ornamental plants to avoid and non-invasive alternatives.
- Clean off your shoes, socks, and tools if they get covered in plant seeds while hiking, traveling, or gardening. For more information, visit Play, Clean, Go.
- When traveling, don’t bring plant material back to California. Visit Don’t Pack a Pest for international travel guidelines, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s webpage for information about bringing plants and animals into California.
- Remove invasive plants from your yard and dispose of them properly. Many invasive plant species can survive home composting. If your city doesn’t provide municipal composting, bag invasive weeds and dispose of them in the trash.
- Join a local habitat restoration effort! Check for volunteer opportunities with your local parks departments and environmental nonprofits.
To learn more about invasive plants and how to manage them, read Pest Notes: Invasive Plants. For specific information about the species mentioned in this article, read Pest Notes: Brooms, Invasive Pest Spotlight: Pampasgrass and Jubatagrass, and the UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research webpage about giant reed.
