Whatever you do, don't buy this plant—no matter how pretty one of its names (snow in the mountain) is. It's goutweed, plain and simple, which really doesn't sound like something you'd want in your backyard, right?
Don't believe me? Read what others have to say:
• UBC Botanical Gardens Forums
• Northscaping.com forum
After digging up as much as possible (even the tiniest bit of root will generate new growth), I've decided to remove much of the soil from the roughly 2' by 2' patch, cover the area with plastic (and let it sit for a year or so), and burn the bits of root that I've already dug up (along with a few neighbouring plants whose root balls have been infiltrated by goutweed rhizomes).
I can't believe it's legal to sell this highly invasive, non-native plant in Canada. There is apparently one sure way to avoid having to deal with it: move to a goutweed-free location.
Here's an interesting fact sheet on goutweed.
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My parents have some of that under a walnut tree, and under a pine tree. It has never spread but it is surrounded by lawn so maybe that is why. I would be quite supportive of banning the sale of non-native plants that can spread like this one.
ReplyDeleteIt apparently gets into lawns as well. Your parents are lucky if it hasn't gotten into theirs yet. I'm going to check into the legal status of this plant. It's the most invasive plant I've ever dealt with—makes morning glory an almost-welcome visitor (almost...).
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