NPR: Oregon to Ban Butterfly Bush?

Oregon to Ban Butterfly Bush?

HEAR YE, HEAR YE ...

A butterfly bush can be a gorgeous thing. I remember seeing my first dark purple one in full flower (it was the now-ubiquitous 'Dark Knight') covered in butterflies and not believing my eyes.

HOWEVER ... here in the Northwest, they are noxious weeds; if another one was never planted out here, the species would still dominate the landscape for decades to come. And by landscape I don't just mean gardens; I mean the ever-threatened wild.

THEREFORE ... it was with great pleasure I read today that the plant division of the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is proposing to restrict its sale in Oregon. Woweee!

BE AWARE ... that the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) has already managed to work around the ODA ban on awful, mean, nasty ivy. Oregon nurseries can still sell Hedera helix for "indoor or containerized uses" — as if anyone's watching what Oregonians do with their ivy.

TO WIT ... I ain't celebrating just yet...but thought you might want to know it's in the works...

5:45 PM ET | 01- 7-2008 | permalink

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Sounds like a great idea to me! But it seems the real problem with these state rules is knowledge of the law and enforcement. I've seen nurseries ignore such laws and get away with it. And then there are the plant swaps...

Sent by Christine | 11:02 AM ET | 01-08-2008

And of course we can't forget the disturbed soils, human created, that this plant sprouts in. It is easier to blame the plant than blame the person, economy, etc. that created the habitat for it to thrive...

Sent by Dan | 12:14 AM ET | 02-07-2008

Sorry, this is a question, not a comment-- I am moving from CA (L.A. area) to OR (Portland area) soon, and I don't know what plants I can take with me or how to transport them. Is there a website I can go to for info? I certainly don't want to bring "bad" plants to OR! Thanks!

Sent by Melinda | 4:15 PM ET | 04-28-2008

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