05/19/2026
My personal belief about plants that often labeled by many as invasive may be unique and perhaps viewed as irresponsible by some-focuses more on how one cares for a plant. I will preface this - each of us must consider where where we garden and our regional climate, but we should also consider how skilled will are as gardeners. Is this a species i we can care for properly - by pruning , seed removal or is it a less vigorous selection? We perform this responsibility check when we choose a dog breed, we must also do this when we choose any plant. When our garden is open for garden tours I’m often sought out by a horrified guest so eager to point out that I have provided bed a home for a shockingly invasive plant such as a mostly white selection of Japanese knotweed (it’s produced no more than 3 stems per year in its 25 years with us) or a Chinese wisteria that is a selection that hadn’t grown more than 10’ tall in 20 years because we prune it hard and remove any seed pods (though this one cultivar is slow growing and produces long, fragrant tassels of flowers that smell like orange blossoms). We’ve listed the cultivar name but it’s such a terrific plant. Though we wouldn’t dare allow it to run wild just as we’d never take our Irish terriers to a dog park or allow them to run off leash . Our giant Japanese butternut -Petasites japonicus ssp. Giganteus cane yo us from famed plantsman Dan Hinkley back in the 90s. He told us that this was the true giganteus and that all others in the trade weren’t, and we continue to believe him as it has nearly 4’ wide leaves and unlike its misbehaving cousin-Petasites x hybridus, this dies run here and there but with just a bit of discipline, it has behaved for 30 years. So next time someone offers you a native mayapple or a golden leaf form or pink form of lily of the valley, think twice and evaluate your skill as a gardener, your capacity in training, pruning or controlling a plant with proper care and how thick your skin is before you commit but remember-not all pit pulls are bad and sometimes biodiversity is just as valuable as is a native plant (of which we have many too).
