Invasive species
James Waddick (Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:18:20 PDT)

Dear Friends,
Just a bit of related info. A New York Times article lead me
to a list of "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species"
according to the IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group reported at:

http://k-state.edu/withlab/consbiol/…

The list includes algae, fish, invertebrates and the following 32 Land Plants:

African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata)
black wattle (Acacia mearnsii)
Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius)
cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica)
cluster pine (Pinus pinaster)
erect pricklypear (Opuntia stricta)
fire tree (Myrica faya)
giant reed (Arundo donax)
gorse (Ulex europaeus)
hiptage (Hiptage benghalensis)
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum)
Koster's curse (Clidemia hirta)
kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)
lantana (Lantana camara)
leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)
leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala)
melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)
miconia (Miconia calvescens)
mile-a-minute weed (Mikania micrantha)
mimosa (Mimosa pigra)
privet (Ligustrum robustum)
pumpwood (Cecropia peltata)
purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
quinine tree (Cinchona pubescens)
shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica)
Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata)
strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum)
tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima)
wedelia (Sphagneticola trilobata)
yellow Himalayan raspberry (Rubus ellipticus)

The point of this is a question.

How many of these "World's Worst" do you grow in your garden
and how many are sold in your local garden centers?

I grow Arundo donax, Fallopia japonica,and Lythrum
salicaria, but all as selected cultivars. A few others turn up in
garden centers during the season.

Just for your info. Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +