PlantWise Industry Partnership Program A Guide for Garden Centers, Landscape Architects, Growers, Suppliers and Specifiers COMPANY NAME: ADDRESS: PREPARED BY: DATE:
TABLE OF CONTENTS PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM About Invasive Plants...1 About the PlantWise Program...1 CODE OF CONDUCT Principles and Practices of the Plantwise Industry Code of Conduct....3 Code of Conduct Commitment...3 Invasive Plants to Phase Out of Use...4 BECOMING AN INVASIVE-PLANT-FREE BUSINESS In-house Review....5 Elimination of Invasives...6 Invasive Plant Disposal...7 PlantWise Training...7 Educate Customers....8 Promotion and Recognition of your Business...8 Annual Check-In...8 Resources...9 Updates from ISCBC...9 Acknowledgments The PlantWise program was developed in 2013 under the guidance of an advisory committee including representatives from the BC Landscape and Nursery Association, growers, retailers, landscapers, Master Gardeners, and invasive plant experts. Funding for the PlantWise Industry Partnership Program has been provided through the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program under Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM About Invasive Plants Invasive plants have both environmental and economic impacts to BC communities causing long-lasting changes to ecosystems by outcompeting native species. Economic impacts include a decrease in land productivity paired with an increase in management costs. Invasive plants may also impact human health and safety and increase the chance of forest fires. The majority of invasive plants currently found in BC are known to have originated as accidental introductions from the horticulture industry. For more information about invasive species, visit our website: bcinvasives.ca. Invasive plants, referred to as noxious weeds in BC legislation, are regulated through the Weed Control Act and Regulations. The list of Provincial and Regional noxious weeds can be found at: bclaws.ca/recon/document/id/freeside/10_66_85 To learn more, go to: bcinvasives.ca/invasive-species/about/regulatedinvasive-species-in-bc/, or for.gov.bc.ca/hra/plants/legislation.htm About the PlantWise Program PlantWise is a province-wide program developed to help prevent further introduction and spread of invasive plants specifically through the ornamental horticulture trade. The program consists of a twopronged approach intended for gardeners and the public, as well as members of the ornamental horticulture industry including garden centres, growers, suppliers, landscape architects and specifiers. The foundation of the program is based on the popular Grow Me Instead (GMI) resource, produced in 2008 by a panel of industry experts. GMI identifies 26 of the worst invasive species available in the horticulture trade. The book also provides attractive, regionally appropriate alternatives for each invasive species listed and is available in multiple formats including a mobile app and website (beplantwise.ca). The PlantWise Industry Partnership Program supports gardeners and the general public in their search for retailers that are committed to selling only non-invasive plants. The intent of this Industry Partnership is to work with and support members of the ornamental horticulture industry as they phase out the sale of known regionally invasive plants and offer similar non-invasive, alternative species instead. The PlantWise Industry Partnership Program provides an industry standard for being invasiveplant-free. It includes a voluntary partnership between ISCBC and businesses via a signed code of conduct, phasing out of 26 unwanted and invasive plants based on the GMI resource, promotion of non-invasive alternative ornamentals, staff training, customer education, and self-regulation. PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 1
The Consumer PlantWise Program is complementary to the Industry Program that includes the education and outreach component designed for gardeners and the general public. It is delivered by trained PlantWise Ambassadors throughout the province to relay the importance of selecting only non-invasive plants for gardens and landscapes while also providing suggestions of alternative plants to choose from instead. In addition, gardeners and the general public are provided with a listing of PlantWise Industry Partners that sell the desired non-invasive plants. B. Johnson, SSISC GET STARTED NOW! The process to becoming an invasive-free business is easy and requires few steps to complete and maintain. Use this checklist and become a PlantWise Industry Partner. Contact the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) at bcinvasives.ca or 1-888-933-3722 to get started. Receive an online link to view the PlantWise Industry Partnership Guide. Sign and submit the PlantWise Code of Conduct Form on page 3 to become a PlantWise Partner! You will receive the PlantWise Industry Partner Kit that includes useful PlantWise resources, information, and tools to help you communicate your invasive-free business. Complete an in-house review to identify any of the 26 GMI invasive plants in your inventory. Refer to the Industry Partnership Guide for tips and hints as you work towards establishing and maintaining your business as invasive plant-free. This can include: Free PlantWise training. Resources from the PlantWise website for use in your business including online training webinars, factsheets and reports, free mobile application, and more. Updates on invasive species prevention, management and events from ISCBC. Educate customers to select non-invasive alternative plants for their gardens. Complete an annual check-in from a PlantWise representative. Receive promotion and recognition through the partnership as an invasive plant-free business! THANK YOU FOR BEING PLANTWISE 2 PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
CODE OF CONDUCT for the Ornamental Horticulture Industry THE PURPOSE OF THE SIGNED CODE OF CONDUCT IS TO PROVIDE THE ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY WITH A SET OF PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES THAT MAKE A BUSINESS INVASIVE PLANT-FREE. Commitment to the following principles and practices will reduce the introduction and spread of invasive ornamental plants in gardens and green spaces. The program aims to foster cooperation between horticulture and invasive plant professionals and encourages industry s help in educating customers on making PlantWise choices. PRINCIPLES OF THE PLANTWISE INDUSTRY CODE OF CONDUCT: Synonymous with best management practices; Science-based; Consistent with existing regulations; Voluntary, self-regulatory and free; Foster cooperation between horticulture professionals and invasive plant specialists; Extension to customers/members. PRACTICES OF THE PLANTWISE INDUSTRY CODE OF CONDUCT: Comply with provincial and regional regulations and bylaws; Stay informed; Educate people; Select only plants that are not known to be invasive; Identify plants in your business with both common and latin names; Grow/offer alternatives to the known invasive plants; Keep your business premises free of invasive plants; Dispose of invasive plants responsibly. PLANTWISE CODE OF CONDUCT COMMITMENT I agree to abide by the key principles and practices above. Please check all that apply: I am a grower I am a retailer I am a landscaper I am a specifier Other. Please specify: Partner representative (Print Name): Business name: Address: City: Postal Code: Phone: Email: Website: Signature: Date: PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 3
Invasive Plants to Phase Out of Use Below is a list of 26 invasive ornamental plants to be phased out of the industry. This list has been compiled from the Grow Me Instead (GMI) resource available at beplantwise.ca. Species within these genera and sterile cultivars are considered suitable in the trade. J. Hallworth R. Wallace B. Stewart J. Leekie J. Leekie Baby s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) Bachelor s Buttons (Centaurea cyanus) Blueweed (Echium vulgare) Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor) Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) Daphne (Daphne laureola) D. Polster J. Leekie NWIPC L. Mehrhoff B. Brown L. Scott C. Mackay D. Hanna English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) English Ivy (Hedera helix) Field Scabious (Knautia arvense) Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) B. Stewart R. Old J. Leekie L. Scott L. Scott P. Wray J. Leekie R. Mueller Knotweeds (Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis, Polygonum polystachyum) Mountain Bluet (Centaurea montana) Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparis) R. Mueller D. Powell L. Scott R. Mueller J. Leekie Please note that not all plants listed may be considered invasive in your region. Spurges (Euphorbia esula, E. myrsinities, E. cyparissias) Tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis, T. ramosissima) Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris, L. genistifolia subsp. dalmatica) Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) Yellow Archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) 4 PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Becoming an INVASIVE- PLANT-FREE BUSINESS Now that you have signed and submitted the Code of Conduct and become a partner with ISCBC, we want to help you phase out any invasive species from your business and promote noninvasive alternatives to your clients and customers. The information within this guide is intended as suggestions only and is meant to assist your business with implementing the Code of Conduct. Please develop your own set of tasks that are appropriate for your business. You will soon receive a PlantWise Industry Partner Kit from ISCBC that includes: 1. PlantWise Program Overview 2. Promotional material to indicate that your business is a PlantWise partner 3. GMI: Booklet, Snapshot and Wallet Card (one each) 4. PlantWise FactSheet 5. PlantWise Poster In-house Review The first step is to identify if any of the 26 ornamentals listed in the GMI resource are present in your business. If you don t already know, you may need to review your inventories and make a list of invasive plants currently grown, sold or prescribed by your company. While reviewing your inventory, note any of the suggested alternatives in the GMI or identify ones that you wish to offer as suitable, non-invasive options. Once you have established your list of invasive plants in stock, the next step is to prepare a plan to eliminate them. We urge you to review the material provided and use the information in this guide, along with ISCBC resources, to help your business meet its commitment to reducing the introduction and spread of invasive species through the horticulture trade. PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 5
Elimination of Invasives Phasing out invasive ornamentals from your company s inventory will depend on your type of business. The timeframe for completing a phase out of the 26 GMI invasive ornamentals will also depend on your business s current stock. It is recommended that one staff person take on the responsibility for developing and overseeing the implementation of the PlantWise plan. Plans should be written, reviewed and then revised on an annual basis to remove invasive ornamentals from your business and to ensure that they are kept out in the future. Nursery and greenhouse operations that currently propagate these plants for sale will need to identify alternatives and develop a schedule for substituting species. This routinely happens in propagation when old cultivars or species have been replaced with new introductions, so the process will not be new. Consider substitutes for invasive plants from those known to be environmentally sound selections for your region as well as the areas to which you ship. Once stock has been depleted, choices of what species to propagate in the future should always be checked for their invasive status locally. Some companies may decide to dispose of small amounts of remaining stock. See the Invasive Plant Disposal section below for responsible disposal options. Invasive yellow flag iris is an unwanted aquatic invasive plant that forms dense patches that displace native plants, alter wildlife habitat and restrict water flow in irrigation canals and flood control ditches. Retail centers that do not propagate, but strictly order in, will need to decide how to manage the unwanted invasive plants in stock as well as eliminate any chance of ordering the unwanted plants in the future. Retailers can either sell off remaining stock or dispose of existing stock. Consider labelling the plants as invasive if you decide to sell to customers. Your plan should also include the steps necessary to prevent ordering any of these invasive species in future. Identify all parties that should be aware of your business s PlantWise transition in order to avoid further orders being placed: sales staff, staff responsible for placing orders, shipping and receiving staff, designers, and specifiers. Your business must also be prepared with replacement/alternative plants to offer when customers request an invasive ornamental. Consider a plant s ease of growth, function in the landscape and availability when making decisions on which species to order as invasive plant alternatives. Inform your suppliers of your plans to phase out and eliminate invasive plants from your business and ask them to assist in meeting your commitment. Landscape design companies need to work towards and promote new designs that are compatible with regional ecosystems. The alternative plants provided in the GMI booklet were selected to include: 1) native species to eliminate the possibility of invasiveness, 2) species similar to the unwanted species in size, form or flower colour, and 3) those plants that are similar to the unwanted species in function and/or habitat preference. The commercial availability of all suggested alternative plants was verified upon development of the resource. Landscape architects and specifiers will be able to add many more desirable replacements to the current list of unwanted species. Information on the invasiveness of ornamentals is readily available to assist you in making ecologically sound decisions when considering new species to introduce to your business. 6 PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Invasive Plant Disposal Responsible disposal of invasive plants is a key consideration when eliminating unwanted stock as the movement of reproductive plant parts can contribute to the spread of invasive species into new areas. It is important to educate customers and clients as well as your own staff on responsible methods of disposal. Be sure to contact your local landfill, regional district or invasive species regional committee to learn how invasive plants are disposed of in your community as recommendations may vary by region. Do not let your invasive plants go to seed. It is easiest to deal with invasive plant disposal before seeds are produced. Be sure to clip off all mature flower and seed heads. Seal seeds and other vegetative reproductive plant parts in a thick or double black plastic bag to avoid any spillage during transit. Put sealed bags into your regular garbage for disposal at a landfill. Contact your local landfill for disposal of larger quantities of bags. The soil in potted stock may also contain seeds or other unwanted invasive species; therefore, the entire plant and root ball may need to be disposed of to prevent spread. DO NOT COMPOST! Piling invasive plants with other yard waste to decompose only enables further spread of invasive plants. The illegal dumping of invasive plants in greenbelts, forests and grasslands is evidence that composting is ineffective in disposing of these species. The biological properties that make these species invasive such as long-lived seeds, prolific seed production, stress tolerance, and the ability to grow and reproduce under limiting conditions, also makes disposal difficult. Many of these invasive species have been found to take root during the composting process and fluffy, wind-dispersed seeds have been seen releasing from compost sites. Many invasive plant seeds can also germinate within compost sites as compost temperatures are not high enough to kill all the seeds. In many cases, once contaminated compost material has been moved to be used in new planting areas, invasive species have quickly appeared and spread. PlantWise Training Business analysts agree that knowledgeable staff help attract new and retain existing customers as they seek out in-store assistance on which plants to grow. ISCBC offers free training on the PlantWise Industry Partnership Program to you and your staff. ISCBC staff are available to answer questions and provide support. Pre-recorded online training webinars are also available for industry use at any time that suits your business. PlantWise program webinars are available at: beplantwise.ca and are between 15 to 30 minutes each in length. ISCBC has specifically designed a PlantWise Industry Partner Program webinar to help industry partners further understand what it means to be a PlantWise partner as well as your vital role in the process of eliminating industryrelated invasive plant introduction and spread. Identify all staff positions at your business that should be aware of this program and would benefit from training. Consider including those people who help customers with selection of plants, prescribe plants for landscape installations, design landscapes and garden plantings, prepare orders for shipment, unload plant shipments on arrival, or move plants to the shelves. It is advisable to train one or two people who may then train the rest of your staff. Be sure to keep track of which staff has received training and when the training was received for future reference. English ivy is a popular but invasive ornamental plant that takes over natural areas, represses tree growth and damages infrastructure. PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 7
Educate Customers Industry Partners are invaluable for increasing invasive plant awareness amongst clients and customers. Market research has shown that the point of sale is the best place to reduce the introduction and spread of invasive species. Invasive ornamental plants are available to gardeners and the general public through catalogues, online distributors, local plant sales, and through sharing invasive plants amongst themselves. These sources are more difficult to monitor compared to in-store purchasing or otherwise doing direct business with a horticulture professional. In general, it is seen that once educated to understand the issues around invasive ornamentals in the landscape, customers have the genuine desire to do the right thing, and no longer want to buy and grow invasive ornamentals. Retailers have the greatest opportunity to educate the public on responsible gardening. To capitalize on this opportunity think about: Which tools do we want to us; mobile app, GMI printed resources, posters? When will the information be given to customers; when selecting plants, at payment? Are we displaying posters, brochures, etc.? If so, where? Are we going to promote any of the suggested alternatives or select our own? What staff will be involved? Can we work the invasive plant/only purchase non-invasive plant message into any of our other marketing? Promotion and Recognition of your Business Businesses that sign and submit the PlantWise Code of Conduct automatically have their name and link to their website posted on both the ISCBC and Be PlantWise websites. Your business will be seen as an industry leader in responsible gardening by setting an example for other businesses in eliminating the introduction and spread of invasive ornamentals. Your voluntary and successful participation in the PlantWise program is one more thing that you can do to attract and retain customers. Annual Check-In A PlantWise representative will contact your business once a year to check-in on your PlantWise transition. The intent is to support your company in following the recommended practices for meeting the commitments outlined in the Code of Conduct and to ensure your business can be continually recognized in our advertising materials, on our websites, and on the Be PlantWise mobile application. The annual check-in will determine the following: If management still supports the PlantWise Program What improvements to the program would help your business Updates to contact information If any regionally invasive ornamentals remain in stock at your business How ISCBC can support your efforts with eliminating invasive ornamentals from trade Your success with the alternative ornamentals you offer customers and clients Your successes with education and outreach to your customers and clients What marketing and training resources have worked/not worked for your business We want to continue to develop our relationship with your business through the PlantWise Program to meet our collective goal of eliminating the introduction and spread of invasive ornamentals through industry practices. Meeting with a PlantWise representative provides the opportunity for ISCBC to meet staff and have discussions that may not otherwise happen. Your ideas, comments and suggestions will assist in moving the program forward. 8 PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Resources The Be PlantWise website at: beplantwise.ca is program specific where you can find information on the PlantWise program, resources, products, factsheets, and webinars. Keep up to date and learn more about: Invasive plants and alternatives Impacts of invasive plants Benefits of being PlantWise Program components for Industry, Ambassadors, and Gardeners Proper disposal of invasive plants New Alert Species Grow Me Instead (GMI) resources included in your PlantWise Industry Partner Kit are useful tools for staff to have on hand when ordering stock or responding to customer questions. The GMI booklet, brochure and wallet card are available at: beplantwise.ca. The GMI resource was created to help shift gardeners buying patterns towards selecting only non-invasive ornamentals. GMI includes: Photo, description and management site map for 26 unwanted invasive ornamentals Photo, description, and growing information for 5 suggested alternatives for each invasive List of additional recommended ornamentals for each invasive Instructions for what you can do to prevent, control, remove, dispose and report invasive plants List of additional unwanted Alert Species List of other resources You are not limited to the alternate plants listed but may substitute your own choices, provided they are not listed within the GMI resource and are not considered invasive. Grow Me Instead is also available through the Be PlantWise app, an interactive application for your computer or mobile devices. Get the free mobile app from the Be PlantWise website at beplantwise.ca or use the application online. The new Be PlantWise mobile app was specifically designed with industry partners in mind. Staff can have the app on their mobile device giving them ready access to regionally specific alternative ornamentals for customers to choose from. The Be PlantWise application has all the information found in the GMI booklet organized by B.C. regions and plant hardiness zones. It also provides a list of PlantWise partners throughout the province. The Be PlantWise mobile app can be downloaded from beplantwise.ca. PlantWise Products are available at: beplantwise.ca. All ISCBC publications and products are downloadable from our website free of charge. You may also purchase hard copies from the ISCBC office based on available inventory. Additional tools are available on the ISCBC website bcinvasives.ca under Resources including publications, TIPS Factsheets, programs and events. Updates from ISCBC GROW ME INSTEAD (Native Species) This Grow Me Instead Snapshot profiles 26 of BC s most unwanted horticultural plants, along with their recommended alternatives. www.bcinvasives.ca PlantWise partnership means that you will be kept up-to-date on invasive species news and events in and around B.C. and worldwide. We encourage you to become a member of the ISCBC! Membership is free and all members receive the Friday File ISCBC s e-newsletter and reduced member rate at the Invasives Forums held annually in Richmond, B.C. The ISCBC website is updated regularly with invasive species and ISCBC news as well as event and program information. N. Bakker Showy Daisy (Erigeron speciosus) BCLNA AVOID USE (Invasive) Bachelor s Buttons (Centaurea cyanus) R. Wallace PLANTWISE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 9
TOGETHER PREVENT RESTORE #100 197 North 2nd Ave., Williams Lake, BC V2G 1Z5 Phone: (250) 305-1003 or 1-888-933-3722 Fax: (778) 412-2248 www.bcinvasives.ca info@bcinvasives.ca ISCBC Charity Registration #856131578RR0001