Vol. 54—2000 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

WATER GARDENI WEED GARDEN?
S. T. Hoyle and S. H. Kay I
ABSTRACT
Thepopularityof water gardeninghasincreaseddramaticallyin NorthCarolinaand
throughoutthe countryduringthe past few years. Sales of equipmentandplants for water
gardenshave nearlydoubledannuallyoverthepastfive years.andindustryprojectionssuggest
thatthis rateof increasewill continueforanotherfive years.
Thedemandforwaterandwetlandplantshasspawnedthegrowthof aquaticplantnurseries.
In some cases,plantscontainundesirable,highlyinvasivespeciessuchas hydrilla(Hydri//a
verticil/ala LJ. Royle) as contaminants.A numberof undesirablespecies such as giantsalvinia
(Sa/vinia mo/esta D. S. Mitchell) have been cultivated, sold, and distributed widely, either
mistakenlyor intentionally.underthewrongscientificandcommonnames. The increasing
availabilityof plantsfrom mail orderandon-line catalogsbasonly aggravatedthis situation.
The greatmajorityof these plantsneverbecomeproblems. However, a few have provento he
highly invasive including waterhyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Martins) Solms-Laubacb] and
purpleloosestrife (Lythrum salicarta L.) andhave causedsignificantenvironmentaldamage
through habitat destruction. In 1999, waterhyacintlts were found in several locations in North
Carolina. Eachof these "new"infestationshavebeentracedbackto intentionalintroductions
fromwatergardens. Preventingtheintroductionandspreadof noxious aquaticweeds can save
millionsof dollarsof publicandprivatemoneyannually forweed controlactivities.
Justbecause a plantis interestingorhasa prettyflower doesnot constitutejustification for
releasing it into the environment. Invasivespecies includinggiant salvinia andhydriIla,both
FederalNoxious Weeds,arenotnativeto theUnitedStatesandhave enteredeitheras
contaminantsamongotherplantsor as intentionalintroductions.Is this whatYOU want in your
ponds and lakes? Moreover, how much are you willing to spend to get rid of those plants,
which become weedy? Carefulconsiderationof the natureof the plants you intendto put intoa
water garden, aquascape, or wetland can reduce the likelihood of inadvertently creating a weed
managementproblem. Even plantsnativeto one partof the countrymay beinvasive in another
part of the country. A wise approachis to select vegetation native to the region where it is to be
plantedand, wheneveravailable,to use only those species which usually arenot invasive.
The best assuranceof having attractive, trouble-free water gardens, aquascapes, and wetland
plantings is careful plant selection. Educate yourself about the nature of aquatic and wetland
plants,and know whatyou want beforeyou purchase. Beware of salesmen who seem too eager
to sell you large numbersof expensive, prettyplantsandwho assureyou thatthey are not
invasive andwill never become troublesome. Evenwhen purchasingnative plants from local
sources, be sure yourplantsare free of unwanted.contaminants. Visit the nursery,andlook
carefully at the plants they have for sale to determine that there are no unwanted plants mixed
with them. Also, be surethat your source of plants is a state-certifietl nursery or dealership. If
you find that you have too many plants, dispose of them properly - NEVER dump them into the
ditch, pond, lakeor riverwhere they may become someone's problem.
, Agricultural Research Tech., and Associate Professor, Crop Science Department, NC State
University, Raleigh, NC 27695
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