Invasive species are those that have been introduced into an area where
they are not native, causing significant damage to the natural ecosystem.
The rapid growth of invasive plants competes with native species for vital
resources, such as food and water.
*Native species are the plants that naturally grow in this area.
Invasive species are a significant threat to biodiversity through
habitat loss.
Types of invasives:
English Ivy - An evergreen vine that grows as dense ground cover or
climbs up trees. It suppresses native vegetation, and its smothering can contribute to increased occurrences of blowdowns and disease.
Giant Hogweed - This plant can grow up to 5 metres tall and is identifiable by
its dark green, coarsely toothed, deeply incised leaves, and hairy stems. Giant hogweed produces a highly toxic sap that can cause burns, blisters, and scarring upon contact.
Periwinkle - This groundcover, originally from Europe, became popular in
ornamental gardens for its fast growth and dense coverage.
However, it spread rapidly through BC forests, choking out
native plant species and negatively impacting conifer
seedlings by competing for space and resources.
Lamium - This plant is commonly found in hanging baskets and garden
beds. When it spreads to the forest floor, it can smother
native herbs, shrubs, and even moss, while its dense cover
also suppresses the growth of native tree seedlings.
Holly - The deep roots of this invasive plant compete with native
species for essential nutrients and water, inhibiting the
growth of the surrounding vegetation. Additionally, the
plant's berries are toxic to both humans and pets if ingested
Japanese Knotweed - All species in BC can grow through concrete and asphalt,
damaging infrastructure. Globally, significant habitat has been lost. They are extremely difficult to remove, as they spread through seeds, root, and stem fragments, making
them challenging to control.
Scotch broom (English broom) - is an escaped garden plant introduced from Europe that easily invades sunny, disturbed sites such as rangelands, roadsides, and areas of recent logging. Scotch broom can increase the intensity of wildfires, obstruct sightlines along roads, and crowd out native plants that animals depend on. A mature plant can live up to 25 years and produce seeds that can survive in the soil for 30 years. Scotch broom is designated as a Regional Containment/Control species by the BC Provincial Priority Invasive Species List.
What can you do:
- Private Property Invasive Disposal
- Place into your residential garbage cart or take to the landfill and dispose of as garbage. Do not put into the Organics waste stream as this will continue their spread since organic material is sent to the Regional Organics Composting facility to be transformed into compost for agriculture and landscaping use.
- Do not dispose of your garden waste or soil in parks or greenspaces - this is prohibited and contributes to the spread of invasive plants.
- Stay on designated paths within the parks.
- Report invasive species in the public parks:
- Within the Town of Comox municipal boundary, report sightings by email to parks@comox.ca.
- Areas outside a municipality, report through the free BC government mobile app called "Report Invasives BC" - the app can be used offline, with reports submitted as soon as you regain cell service.
- Do not grow or buy invasive plants.
Thank you to our community partners for their support:
MacDonald Wood Park Society
Friends of Mack Laing Nature Park
Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society