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Hawaii's Most Invasive Horticultural Plants:
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One of the major threats to Hawaii's native species and forests is the rampant spread of a large number of invasive alien plant species across the state. These plants displace Hawaii's distinctive native flora, resulting in the loss of diverse native forests that support a large array of native animals. Preservation of the array of native plants and animals that make Hawaii unique must confront the problem of invasive alien plant species.
The ornamental plant trade accounts for the majority of invasive plant introductions to Hawaii. This website is designed to educate the concerned public about why this has occurred and to inform them about those invasive alien plants that they should avoid using so as to reduce the threat these invasive species pose to Hawaii's native ecosystems.
In considering how to stem the flood of plant invasions in Hawaii it is important to remember that the vast majority of these invasions don't "just happen" - they result from conscious choices made by humans to plant invasive species. Even though it is tempting to think that planting some beautiful tree or shrub in one's backyard, along the street, or in an agricultural lot is harmless, the fact that seeds of many of these plants are widely dispersed by birds or wind means that these seemingly inoccuous plantings can easily impact what remains of native Hawaii, even if that impact is not easily seen by the original planter. It is important to remember that the multi-million dollar control effort against miconia (Miconia calvescens) was necessitated by the actions of only one or a few individuals who decided to introduce this invasive pest to Hawaii. The prudent choice for the responsible horticulturist is to avoid such invasive plants and, instead, landscape or garden with either natives or non-invasive alien plants. At the very least, the plants depicted on this website should be avoided. |
For more information on the latest invasive pest assessments: UH Botany: Weed Risk Assessment |