Invasive Plants
Invasives for Sale: The Ongoing Spread of Invasive Speci By Evelyn M. Beaury, Madeline Patrick, and Bethany A. Bradley
T
he sale of ornamental nonnative plants is a primary pathway of invasive plant introduction into the United States. This study aimed to assess how effective voluntary and regulatory efforts have been at reducing the spread of invasive plants through horticulture. To do so, we compiled a list of 1,285 plant species listed as invasive, including state prohibited plant lists, the federal noxious weed list, and unregulated species listed by the Invasive Plant Atlas. Using standardized internet searches, we found that 61% of these invasive plants are still on the market as ornamentals somewhere in the lower-48 United States, many of which can be bought and sold online through websites like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. Regulated plants were sold less often than non-regulated plants (Table 1), but there were many instances in which regulated plants were sold in states despite their regulations.
Massachusetts prohibits the sale of 135 plants; 65 are commercially available somewhere in the U.S., but only three are for sale within the state of Massachusetts. Regulators have already followed up with local nurseries to reduce the reoccurrence in Massachusetts, but due to inconsistencies in state prohibited plant lists, we often found that Massachusetts prohibited plants were sold legally in neighboring states, leading to high risk of invasion within the region. We therefore urge everyone to increase their awareness, not only of the Massachusetts prohibited plant list, but also of prohibited plants elsewhere in New England and in the Mid-Atlantic regions (more information can be found on the National Plant Board website). As the climate changes, many ornamental invasives from further south will find suitable habitat in New England. Preventing these species from damaging our native ecosystems requires a renewed focus
Table 1: Count and Percentage of Invasive Plants Available for Purchase as Ornamentals Within the Continental U.S.
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