Buddleia

[Chuck Pearson]

Brenda made some interesting comments on Buddleia that are not well supported by data.

<<is also *HIGHLY INVASIVE*, yes, even here in Ontario.>>

No, not "HIGHLY", maybe not invasive at all in Ontario.  I know that it is not invasive in Michigan.  Those of you who butterfly in Ontario can tell whether it is invasive there by how often you see it in the wild.  Based on the postings on Ontario Butterflies, it is rarely, if ever, seen outside of gardens.  

Most highly invasive plant seeds are dispersed by wind or birds or sticking to fur or clothes.  Buddleia seeds just drop to the ground.  They are not dispersed by any of the mean used by the highly successful invaders.  In a standard subdivision, where the planting beds are surrounded by lawns, there is no way that it will get to a natural area.

 <<I have experienced such a site first-hand.>>

Tell us where this site is so that we can see for ourselves.  Could you post a photo?

 <<It is so very invasive it has been *banned *from many states in the US>>

No.  In the continental United States it is only banned in Washington and Oregon, where the moist, mild climate near the Pacific Ocean is conducive to its growth in the western portions of those states.  To cut through the propaganda about all the places that have banned Buddleia, go to a nursery site and read the shipping restrictions for the plant http://www.waysidegardens.com/blooming-butterflies-blue-morpho-butterfly-bush/p/30841/ 

<<If you have an existing one please please please at least dead head it to prevent seed dispersal>>

You should do this whether it is invasive or not to prolong the bloom period.

 <<But these still can produce some viable seed (must be less than 2% viable to be allowed to have the name 'sterile' so be aware there is still *some *seed produced).>>

This caution about "sterile" not really being sterile is a good one, especially if you are considering some plant other than Buddleia that really is invasive in your area.

 
<<Please remember to *always do your own research before planting anything*>>

Good advice.  Your own research on Buddleia is likely to show that it isn't a problem in Ontario, which has less rain and colder temperatures than Seattle.  Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest is a good reference.  It does not list Buddleia.  Butterflies in the Garden, by Brenda Dziedzic, is a good butterfly garden reference for people with climates similar to Detroit.  Brenda is a butterfly gardener, not a writer, so her book is based on her successful garden on a small residential lot in a suburb of Detroit.  She didn't research other sources and then repeat a lot of bad information, as some of the butterfly garden books written by professional writers have.  Visiting local natural areas can give clues on what is invasive and what attracts butterflies.

And if you want to provide nectar now, during migration I think you would need to look to something other than *Buddleia>>

Native asters, as you say, are very good, but Buddleia is also helpful.

<<as none of the ones I've seen bloom this late>>

I can't speak for Halton but they are still in bloom in Southwestern Ontario if they have been regularly deadheaded.  Don Davis reported today that 10 Monarchs were nectaring on Buddleia in Port Hope so I'm surprised that they are no longer blooming in Halton.  Some of my Buddleia are still blooming, albeit in reduced quantity.  They have a longer bloom period than most natives, including the asters.

<<the one Monarch I did see was on some Red Clover.>>

Red Clover is native to Europe, Western Asia and northwest Africa, not North America.  It isn't clear from the context whether you were implying that it was.  

 I have produced one for Halton Region based on Conservation Haltons planting plan recommendations (using ONLY *common native plants *so there is plenty *not *on this list, the butterfly list is
only ones found in Halton): Halton Butterfly Larval Host Plant and Planting Plan Species Lists.<http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/uploads/downloads/Halton%20Butterfly%20Host%20Plant%20List%20and%20Planting%20Plan%20List.xls>.

This is a good list of butterfly host plants but it has plenty of non-native species including black locust and crown vetch, which are considered "Invasive Species of Major Concern" in Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest.  

<<due to Doug Tallamys research and his article>>

Get his book, Bringing Nature Home.  It discusses the reasons for native plants and goes into some detail on individual species.  He talks about the natives to support both Lepidoptera and birds.  

<<I do have a mix of native and *non-invasive * non-natives in my home landscape, just adding a few natives can make a difference (especially if they are trees or shrubs! One tree can provide a 

whole lot of leaves to eat.) and the butterflies and pollinators just flock to them.>>

I totally agree.  If you mow the lawn close to the street and buy the things that the neighbors' kids sell on fundraising drives, you might be able to get away with a little native prairie further back in the yard, even in a lawn fanatic neighborhood.

If we want to interest people in butterflies and enjoy butterflies, we need to see butterflies.  That is the reason for planting Buddleia, to attract clouds of butterflies as the first step in getting people involved and as a way of keeping them interested.  Buddleia is easy and neat so people are more likely to stick with it than with something like asters.  Buddleia is just the first step but it is a start.

If anybody wants to learn about fighting invasive plants first hand, and are near Ann Arbor for a UM football game, The Nature Conservancy's Ives Road Fen Preserve, just south of Tecumseh, Michigan has volunteer workdays every Saturday from 9 to 1.  E-mail IvesR...@gmail.com for more information.  We have spent thousands of hours on honeysuckle, buckthorn, garlic mustard and purple loosestrife but we have not seen a single Buddleia on the property.

Chuck Pearson

Ives Road Fen Preserve Restoration Leader

Tecumseh, MI

[Paul & Anna-Marie Smith]

Hi all.

 

I'm very much a neophyte when it comes to butterflies but I have seen Buddleia spread considerable distances from the original planting, here in Hamilton in a relatively short time.  Obviously there is some other agent at work here dispersing the seed.  Invasives are not limited to those with wind borne seed or fruit e.g. Garlic Mustard and Purple Loosestrife.

 

Whether it's banned or not it is listed by the US Forestry Service as invasive in at least 26 states including virtually all states east of the Mississippi River and all of the states bordering the lower Great Lakes.  Vermont. New Hampshire & Maine are excluded. The decision to outright ban a plant is often as much a political decision as a technical one.

 

Virtually all of the invasives, from garlic mustard to phragmites have been around for decades before they were recognized as a problem.  Garlic mustard was introduced to North America in the 1860's.  DNA analysis of herbarium specimens of phragmites have shown that the invasive variant began spreading in eastern US at least as early as 1910. 

 

The invasive nature of Buddleia may not be obvious when it only planted in urban areas but can have a much different effect in more natural areas.  Lilacs are an example of that.  They ARE invasive here in Flamborough!

 

The butterflies have thrived for millennium on native plants and when there are native alternatives available why not use them.

 

I apologize if this e-mail seems strident but there IS evidence that Buddleia is invasive here in Ontario.  I'm not advocating the "wholesale" removal of the plant but I am advocating for the judicial use of this plant.  How many invasives do we have to contend with before we put caution first.

 

Paul

 

P.S. I also apologize to everyone that considers this as a form for butterfly sightings only.

 

Paul D.Smith

West Flamborough (Hamilton), Ontario 

Get his book, Bringing Nature Home.  It discusses the reasons for native plants and goes into some detail on individual species.  He talks about the natives to support both Lepidoptera and birds.   <!--[endif]-->

<<I do have a mix of native and *non-invasive * non-natives in my home landscape, just adding a few natives can make a difference (especially if they are trees or shrubs! One tree can provide a 

whole lot of leaves to eat.) and the butterflies and pollinators just flock to them.>>

I totally agree.  If you mow the lawn close to the street and buy the things that the neighbors' kids sell on fundraising drives, you might be able to get away with a little native prairie further back in the yard, even in a lawn fanatic neighborhood.

If we want to interest people in butterflies and enjoy butterflies, we need to see butterflies.  That is the reason for planting Buddleia, to attract clouds of butterflies as the first step in getting people involved and as a way of keeping them interested.  Buddleia is easy and neat so people are more likely to stick with it than with something like asters.  Buddleia is just the first step but it is a start.

If anybody wants to learn about fighting invasive plants first hand, and are near Ann Arbor for a UM football game, The Nature Conservancy's Ives Road Fen Preserve, just south of Tecumseh, Michigan has volunteer workdays every Saturday from 9 to 1.  E-mail IvesR...@gmail.com for more information.  We have spent thousands of hours on honeysuckle, buckthorn, garlic mustard and purple loosestrife but we have not seen a single Buddleia on the property.

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Chuck Pearson

Ives Road Fen Preserve Restoration Leader

Tecumseh, MI

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[Brenda Van Ryswyk]

I only wanted to point out the growing body of evidence showing it is a problem invasive species.  Not once did I state not to plant Buddila at all, only that caution be used and IF you do wish to plant it you should avoid any potential risks by choosing a sterile version. Before my personal encounter with it running wild on an abandoned land in Southern Ontario I too did not think it a concern here. That encounter has totally changed my mind. It was widely dispersed from the parent plant, the seeds clearly traveling many many meters before taking root. I have heard from many that it sometimes does not overwinter in parts of Ontario but that clearly was not an issue where I saw it in southern Ontario and I worry what that bodes for the future as we experience this “climate change”. 

Regardless of your opinion on what is or is not invasive; If there is evidence it MAY pose a problem and there ARE NON-INVASIVE VARIATIES or alternatives that do not pose the RISK why take the risk at all?!? I wanted to highlight this is one species where there are alternatives available, I saw one in my local nursery this very spring.

You are correct, many invasive species can be controlled in highly manicured areas. The problems arise when they reach the unmanicured areas or natural areas (one way or another)…

The site I experienced is no longer publicly accessible so I cannot direct you to it. I do have some photos but not sure how clear they are. The parent plant was somewhere to the one side of the property. The plants there are now impenetrable thicket for 20 to 30 feet round it. Young 3 foot whips of new plants seen dozens of meters away from the large grouping. Small plants like these were throughout the one half of the property, and marching their way across (I estimated the property to be at least 2 acres or more). The seedlings are many dozens of meters from any seed source…

The point was it is banned. It takes a lot of evidence and political will to ban a species from sale. It’s not done without reason.

So again: Regardless of your opinion on what is or is not invasive in a particular area; If there is evidence it may pose a problem and there are alternatives that do not pose the risk, then why take the risk at all???

And no, I was not implying Red Clover was native (I assumed everyone on the list knows its not). Only acknowledging non-natives do provide nectar resources. Non-natives are only a problem when they dominate and threaten the balance.

Yes, some butterflies do use non-native (and even invasive) plants as host plants. That first tab is a host plant list, period. The following two tabs are the native recommendations. The non-natives on the host plant list do have an asterisk which at the bottom notes “plant species not native to Halton Region”. It is not recommending you plant the non-natives (maybe that needs to be more blatantly stated), it’s only stating the butterfly has been documented using that plant as a host.

Yes, I have Tallamys book and highly recommend it as well. His website is also useful.

“If we want to interest people in butterflies and enjoy butterflies, we need to see butterflies.”

I also agree. But if we lose all host plants, we lose all the adults. No where did I state not to plant Buddila at all, only that caution be used and IF you do wish to plant it you could avoid any potential risks by choosing a sterile version.

If we are plugging invasive species control there will also be some events here in Ontario over the next few weeks. The next is at Kerkcliff Park (Burlington) on the 5^th and will be a Buckthorn pull and wildflower plant, and at least one other after Thanksgiving weekend in Hamilton. Contact me off list if you want the details.

I try to keep a positive attitude but it’s sometimes hard when the invasives seem to come in waves from seemingly every angle. I apologize for leading the list offtopic (if people mind, sorry) but couldn’t pass over the opening to educate about invasives.

I wholeheartedly agree with Garys comment: “How many more chances will we get?”

I feel we should do all we can now to help them without putting future generations at risk. But I will not clog the list up further, respond off-list if you want to discuss invasives further. Thanks for everyones comments. Garden responsibly,

Brenda