I'm guilty of growing pseudacorus (though so dry that it refuses to
flower), but I disagree that it's not a potential problem. Pseudacorus
is one of the comparatively few iris species that has the ability to
be invasive since its seeds are dispersed by water. It's also tall,
spreads rapidly by rhizomes, produces a lot of seed and is generally
not eaten by herbivores. I assume this is true for other Laevigatae,
including our native species (as well as Hexagonae and others) on
other continents. Similarly, foetidissima and domestica/Belamcanda
seeds can be dispersed long distances by birds.
I agree that a careful gardener can prevent pseudacorus from escaping
by deadheading it and growing it dry. However, the average gardener
who walks into his local supermarket garden center and buys
pseudacorus doesn't know it's wrong to plant it in his back yard down
by the river. Half the shrubs they sell at my supermarket are
invasives with bird-dispersed seeds, even while the other half are
Nature Conservancy approved non-invasive. Guess which ones sell out
first... In the meantime, the state DNR is spending taxpayer money
removing invasives, but the state won't ban anything that's not an
agricultural pest.
I think I'd be better off not saying any more, as it's a subject I
know a lot about and am very passionate about, but which is mostly
irrelevant to irises. In short, grow your pseudacorus responsibly,
destroy it if you can no longer watch it, and encourage the average
gardener to avoid it. Grow the native, non-fake Acorus instead :)
Sean Z
SE Michigan
Quoting Robert Pries <r*@embarqmail.com>:
>
>
> Dennis: I am probably the closest to a real plant ecologist on this
> forum. I go back all the way to the first Earth Day when I was a PHD
> graduate student in plant ecology. I protested then and i do now
> over the right issues. I recognize that some plants are invasive.
> But this whole issue is muchÂmore complex than simply banning a
> plant. Plants that are invasive in one area are not in another. Even
> native plants can become invasive taking over the habitat from other
> natives. I certainly think it important to understand our actions,
> but tarring one plant because someone says its invasive somewhere is
> sad when there are environments where it can be grown without
> threat. If a gardener is careful just having pseudacorus in the
> garden is not a problem. The problem is more with the massive seed
> diustributions on native wetlands that occured in the !950s when the
> idea of adding a colorful exotic to the local environment was
> considered wonderful. Pseudacorus was used to maintain banks on
> canals and other areas to prevent erosin. Indeed, most of the
> invasive plants we see today were introduced into the wild by the
> thousands to allay the devastation of overuse, clearcutting and
> other abuses. It is no surprise that when planted in huge numbers
> they were able to establish in the environment. Stop the abuse of
> the land and you will limit exotic invasives.
>
> Â
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dennis Kramb" <d*@badbear.com>
> To: i*@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 6:19:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [iris-species] Re: Pseudacorous seeds was Late
> additions to the seed exchange
>
> Â
>
>
>
>
> Down with pseudacorus!
> Save the natives! ;-)
>
> DK
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 6:15 PM, < C*@aol.com > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Pseudacorus to the people!
>
> AMW
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chuck Chapman < i*@aim.com >
> To: i*@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Sent: Wed, Jan 12, 2011 6:04 pm
> Subject: [iris-species] Re: Pseudacorous seeds was Late additions to
> the seed exchange
>
>
> Â
>
>
>
>
> I have been hybridizing Pseudacorous for a number of years and I
> will be introducing some in the near future, perhaps even this year.
>
> Included in these are a tetraploid that has flower about 7" across,
> and a white with outstanding bud count and branching. numerous
> seedlings of various colours, and doubles.
>
> Would these seeds be welcome or not?Â
>
> I was going to send some, but got behind.
>
> Chuck Chapman
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: William Plotner < g*@molalla.net >
> To: i*@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wed, Jan 12, 2011 5:53 pm
> Subject: Re: [iris-species] Late additions to the seed exchange
>
>
>
> Â
>
>
>
> ï
> The wild Pseudacorus plants are on the invasive list in many
> states...However the named cultivars and the Pseu crosses like Roy
> Davidson, Etc. are not included in any ban.
>
> All My Best
>
> Will
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Christy Hensler
> To: i*@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [iris-species] Late additions to the seed exchange
>
> Â
>
> ï
> I noticed that along with listings for pseudacorus in the seed
> exchange is a late listing for x pseudata ex 'Chance Beauty'.
>
> I was under the impression that pseudacorus or pseud crosses weren't
> going to be welcomed any longer so have been either giving away
> seeds from 'Chance Beauty', 'Shape Shifter', and the named white
> pseudacorus I have. Am I mistaken?
>
> Christy
>
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>
