Stop the Sale of Ivy—Sign the Petition

Charlotte Persons

Whatcom Million Trees is sponsoring the petition, which will be presented to the Washington Noxious Weed Control Board at their next meeting on May 23. The board annually reviews the plants to be added to the Prohibited Seeds and Plants List. If they add Ivy to the list, this will mean that nurseries and stores statewide can no longer sell ivy.

For decades, ivy has been listed as a Class C Noxious Weed in Washington. Many members of Black Hills Audubon Society are already familiar with the ecological havoc caused by ivy.

Unfortunately, we know firsthand what happens to local wild places when ivy takes over—we know how birds in a park or preserve slowly disappear as the ivy spreads. This even showed up on one part of the circle for the Leadbetter Christmas Bird Count.

This non-native plant especially thrives in coastal Washington. Both on the ground and on trees, ivy outcompetes local plants and creates ecological deserts where native plants and wildlife can no longer thrive. Millions of dollars of agency and private funds are spent annually in Washington to try to reduce English ivy. In fact, many BHAS members have participated personally in “ivy pulls” in our parks and preserves.

Ivy spreads rapidly on the ground and climbs trees. When it reaches the tree canopy, it kills the tree—almost every time. From the text of the petition: “Here in Whatcom County, we [Whatcom Million Trees] have tallied over 2,000 affected trees. Many more haven’t been tallied yet, such as on private properties, likely adding up to more than 5,000 mature trees County-wide threatened. Statewide, we estimate the number exceeds 100,000 trees.”

Ivy will continue to be a problem even after sales of ivy are prohibited, but eliminating the source of new plants will help. Oregon eliminated the sale of ivy in 2011 with great success. Note that eliminating ivy from nurseries will not affect their sales as they can sell many other decorative vines, including native plant varieties.

You can influence the Noxious Weeds Control Board’s decision by signing the petition.

Photo credit: Ivy beginning to creep up an evergreen, by Rachel Hudson.