Minnesota horticultural industry survey on invasive plants

Horticultural commerce of ornamental plants has been the source of many of our most troublesome plant invaders worldwide. The purpose of this research was to document the knowledge gap of industry perspectives and knowledge of invasive ornamental crops by surveying industry professionals in the Midwest region of the U.S. (primarily in the state of Minnesota). An invasive plant survey was created to assess this information and was mailed to n = 500 individuals and companies randomly chosen from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) membership, which included wholesale/retail nurseries, landscape design, installation & maintenance firms, and retail garden centers. A total of n = 167 surveys (33.4%) were returned and analyzed. A majority of respondents, 62%, felt that the invasive plant issue was very important and 89% tried to direct their customers away from potentially invasive plants. Many respondents, 76%, indicated that they were responsible for educating their customers about invasive ornamental plants. Sixty-nine percent said that they would not sell a plant if it was potentially invasive; however, 57% indicated that this would be true if a competing business was selling the plant. Respondent's knowledge about specific invasive plants varied from 75% to 89% on the identification of three terrestrial invasive plant crops. Far less, 20% and 21%, were able to identify Butomus umbellatus and Salvinia molesta, respectively, two invasive aquatic species. When asked about regulation of invasive ornamental crops, 43% preferred national, state, or USDA regulation while 22% felt industry self-regulation was best, and 21% approved of private regulation. Opportunities exist for educating horticulture industry professionals about invasive plants and providing information to the public through commercial businesses.