- Invasive Ornamentals
-
- Invasive non-native
ornamental plants may cause problems for the environment, because
of their ability to dominate natural landscapes, should they
espcape from the garden. Native plants may be pushed out of an
area and local animals may be unable to use invasive non-native
plants for food or shelter. Also, invasive non-native ornamentals
may prevent access to recreational areas, and create a flood
or fire hazard. Many of these plants are still available for
purchase in stores and nurseries. This
is a partial listing of some of the more notorious species that
are found in the wild in Santa Barbara County and suggested native
alternatives and less-invasive ornamental alternatives.
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- Blue Gum Eucalyptus
- Eucalyptus globulus
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
A-1 rated
- .
- Brazilian Pepper
Tree
- Schinus terebinthifolius
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
B rated
- Native Alternatives:
Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia); Calfornia bay
(Umbellularia californica); Santa Cruz Island ironwood
(Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. aspleniifolius)
- particularly effective planted in a grove; Toyon (Heteromeles
arbutifolia) - if allowed to, this can become a multi-trunked
tree
- .
- Peruvian Pepper Tree,
(California Pepper Tree)
- Schinus molle
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
B rated
- Native Alternatives:
Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia); Calfornia bay
(Umbellularia californica); Santa Cruz Island ironwood
(Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. aspleniifolius)
- particularly effective planted in a grove; Toyon (Heteromeles
arbutifolia) - if allowed to, this can become a multi-trunked
tree
- .
English Ivy
- Hedera helix
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
A-1 rated
Native Alternatives:
Groundcover manzanitas (Arctostaphylos species and cultivars);
Dwarf coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis ssp. pilularis);
Strawberry (Fragaria californica and F.
chiloensis); Groundcover barberries (Berberis repens
or B. aquifolium 'Compacta'); California grape
(Vitis californica) allowed to sprawl on the ground
instead of trained up
.
- Fountain Grass
- Poaceae: Pennisetum
setaceum
CDFA not listed; CalEPPC A-1 rated
- Native Alternatives:
Silver beardgrass (Bothriochloa barbinodis); Deer
grass (Muhlenbergia rigens); California fescue
(Festuca californica); Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus
airoides)
- .
- French Broom
- Genista monspessulana
- CDFA C rated; CalEPPC
A-1 rated
- .
Hottentot Fig,
(Iceplant)
- Carpobrotus edulis
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
A-1 rated
Native Alternatives:
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) this can be mowed
to keep it really low; Beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis);
Dune tansy (Tanacetum camphoratum)
- .
- Japanese Honeysuckle
- Lonicera japonica
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
not listed; a Nature Conservancy plant of concern
- For more information,
go to: http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/lonijapo.html
- .
- Mexican Fan Palm
- Arecaceae: Washingtonia
robusta
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
red alert
- .
- Myoporum
- Myoporum laetum
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
A-2 rated
Native Alternatives:
Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica); Holly-leaved cherry (Prunus
ilicifolia); Catalina cherry (Prunus lyonii); Toyon (Heteromeles
arbutifolia); California wax-myrtle (Myrica californica)
- .
- Pampas Grass and
Jubata Grass
- Poaceae: Cortaderia
selloana & Cortaderia jubata
- C. selloana: CDFA not listed;
CalEPPC A-1 rated
- C. jubata: CDFA rating pending;
CalEPPC A-1 rated
- Pampas grass is available
for purchase. Jubata grass is not usually found in stores.
- Native Alternatives:
Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens); Parry's nolina
(Nolina parryi) ; Giant wild rye (Leymus
condensatus); Leymus condensatus 'Canyon
Prince' a blue-leafed form introduced by SB Botanic Garden; Spiny
rush (Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii)
- Ornamental Alternatives:
- New Zealand flax
- For more information,
visit: http://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/pampasgrass.html
- .
- Periwinkle
- Vinca major
- CDFA not listed; CalEPPC
B rated
Native Alternatives:
Emerald Carpet Manzanita (Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet');
California strawberry (Fragaria californica); Snowberry
(Symphoricarpos mollis); Groundcover barberries
(Berberis repens or B. aquifolium
'Compacta'); Evergreen currant (Ribes viburnifolium);
Yerba buena (Satureja douglasii)
- .
- For more information
about noxious weeds, on the web, visit:
- CDFA's Encycloweedia
- http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/encycloweedia/encycloweedia_hp.htm
- California Exotic Pest
Plant Council - http://www.caleppc.org/
- Univ of California Weed
Research and Information Center - http://wric.ucdavis.edu/
- Wildlands Invasive Species
Team - http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/index.html
-
- References:
- Bossard, Carla C. ed.,
et al. Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands. 2000. University
of California Press
- CDFA's Encycloweedia.
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/encycloweedia/encycloweedia_hp.htm
- The Nature Conservancy.
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/lonijapo.html
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Informational Handout - Native
Alternatives to Weedy Exotics.
- Tu, Mandy. 2002. Conference
Presentation, CalEPPC 12th Symposium 2002.
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