Hi folks. Below is an example of why allowing invasive
plants to be sold at nurseries is a bad idea…
Subject: FW: Invasive Princess Tree - Advertised as the Fastest Growing
Tree in the World
If this isn't a testimonial on why you shouldn't buy
invasive species, I don't know what is!
(P.S. If you received this
twice, it's because you're on the SE-EPPC list-serv. If this is the only time
you've received this, you're NOT on the SE-EPPC list-serv and should sign up here. Low traffic and since you’re a board
member, you should know what’s going out to members. Thanks!)
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 5:36 PM
To: Brown,Karen P
I live in Tulsa, OK. This tree [Paulownia
tomentosa] was sold as having sterile seeds so I felt safe in buying it (bare
root). Seeds are not where the invaders come from ... they come from the roots
of the tree.
I actually cut the trees (2) down and dug two big holes
around the roots ... the roots were 7-inches in diameters in some places and
looked like a twisted leviathan coming up out of the ground. I cut them out in
big sections and disposed of them. I slit what root remained then poured
Roundup on them. A month or two later I saw two stalks from this plant
growing up under the pegboard above my workbench (in my garage) ... and other
week or so, a stalk was growing up behind my freezer (on the other side of my
two-car garage).
The volunteers keep showing up in other places ... in my
yard, anywhere they want to come up. I feel like it is growing under my
house like a monster and will break through my foundation and clog my sewer
lines. I want to move, but I would have to disclose that Jack's giant beanstalk
(on steroids) lives under my house.
