A warning from the Nature Conservancy of Canada about an invasive plant found in gardens and forests across the country.
Spokesperson Andrew Holland says glossy buckthorn are commonly purchased at garden centres.
He says that’s one of the issues.
“It was first found in Canada in 1898 in London, Ontario, and originated in Europe. It was seen as a landscaping plant. It’s a big problem because it is so hearty. It can grow and survive in both shady conditions, but also in the sunshine,” says Holland.
Holland says it can grow up to 25 feet tall, causing a problem for deer and moose because it takes up space.
It can also shade native trees and shrubs, preventing them from growing.
“Glossy buckthorn generates a lot of seeds, and that’s how it spreads through winds. The birds also pick them up. They eat the berries, but they also pick up the seeds, and that’s how these get distributed.”
In Canada, Glossy buckthorn’s range extends from Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia.
Property owners are encouraged to plant native shrubs as an alternative and other non-native shrubs on their properties.
Those options include serviceberry, chokecherry, winterberry, elderberry, nannyberry, and arrowwood.
