A botanist has called out chain stores for selling trees that harm America. The message came through a video that showed a store-bought plant species killing a native plant.
Native plants are plants that have grown in a particular habitat and region for thousands of years. Plus, these plants came on the scene naturally, without human introduction.
In the video the scientists posted on social media, they introduced viewers to a plant that looked harmless. But in reality, it is extremely dangerous. We are talking about an invasive plant.
Invasive plants are mostly non-native trees that invade a habitat, grow aggressively, and harm their environment. They are notorious for monopolizing resources such as light, space, nutrients, and water. They go as far as killing native plants to have their way.
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Popular invasive plants include Japanese Knotweed, Barberry, Honeysuckle, and English Ivy. The English Ivy was the invasive plant this botanist encountered in his video. The video, which was posted on TikTok under the username @Sacramentofoodfest, has garnered over 7000 viewers.
The video had a bold on-screen caption that read “California native plant habitat restoration.” A smaller caption read, “Stop buying invasive plants from Home Depot and Lowe’s.”
The video showed an English Ivy wrapped around a large oak tree. The English Ivy grew up the oak tree in a seemingly friendly embrace. But that’s until the botanist makes you take a closer look.
“Stop buying English Ivy,” he warned in the video. “This is one of the worst invasive species in America,” he started. “English Ivy kills trees.”
The scientist shows us three things English Ivy did to the oak. First, it wrapped itself around the base of the oak’s trunk.
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“It girdles the bottom of the tree…like a noose around the [trunk],” he explained. “But I’m about to save it,” he declared.
He also showed how the leaves of the Ivy spread around the oak trunk and shielded it from sunlight. This action was intended to kill the oak slowly. Then, the Ivy begins to grow into the oak, pushing its way into the bark and causing it to peel off, allowing harmful fungi to attack the oak.
The botanist who is on a conservation campaign for native trees also explained that care must be taken to save the trapped tree. He explained that ripping the English Ivy off the oak’s bark is risky as it further cracks the bark.
He advised that you cut down the English Ivy’s trunk to ensure you don’t leave the oak more vulnerable than you met it.
Invasive plants are harmful in numerous ways. One of such is that they kill off native plants, which provide food, medicine, and fuel for human survival.
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Invasive plants also harbor other invasive species, such as brown rats. These rats can poison food and spread diseases to humans and other animals.
One user asked if she could grow English Ivy in her home. Another user said, “In your house is fine, but make sure to control it.”
“No joke, it could literally climb out your window and spread. Would take awhile, but it’s possible,” the reply concluded. But the botanist’s answer remains the same. “Don’t buy.”
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