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- How to identify common ‘weeds’<\/a><\/li>
- Why weeds are important for wildlife<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
James\u00a0Ewens, gardening expert at\u00a0Alexander Francis<\/a>,\u00a0rounds up his pick of the\u00a0\u2018criminal\u2019 plants that could land you a hefty fine if found in your garden,\u00a0or not tightly controlled.\u00a0<\/p>
10 dangerous weeds <\/h2>
Japanese\u00a0knotweed<\/strong><\/h3>
Probably the\u00a0best\u00a0known\u00a0nuisance-plant\u00a0in this list, Japanese\u00a0knotweed<\/a> has been\u00a0seen\u00a0to do so much damage that it\u00a0features\u00a0on house-buying surveys and can seriously impact the value of your home.<\/p>
\u00a0It\u2019s one of the most invasive plants known, and while it\u2019s\u00a0not illegal to grow Japanese\u00a0knotweed in your garden, it\u2019s highly ill-advised given that it can grow through concrete and takes years to eradicate fully.\u00a0<\/p>
You can still be prosecuted or issued\u00a0with\u00a0a community protection notice if you allow it to spread to someone else\u2019s property.<\/p>
Giant\u00a0hogweed<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Flowering](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/03\/Giant-hogweed-Heracleum-mantegazzianum-05e63f7.jpg\")
Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure> Another well-known plant,\u00a0giant\u00a0hogweed<\/a> can often be spotted by rivers and next to motorways and has become an increasing\u00a0problem in recent years.\u00a0It\u2019s often mistaken for\u00a0cow parsnip,\u00a0but it\u2019s not as harmless and\u00a0should be avoided at all costs.\u00a0<\/p>
Giant hogweed contains a chemical that, if touched,\u00a0can cause third-degree burns and result in permanent scarring. If you spot\u00a0any,\u00a0get in touch with your local council who will arrange\u00a0its\u00a0safe removal.\u00a0Again, while it\u2019s not illegal to have\u00a0giant\u00a0hogweed growing in your garden, it\u2019s an offence to allow\u00a0or cause\u00a0it to spread.<\/p>
Spear thistle<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/07\/Spear-thistle.jpg\")
Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure> Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare<\/em>)\u00a0is a highly invasive and noxious weed\u00a0and it\u2019s currently illegal to grow\u00a0it\u00a0in your garden. Easily identifiable by its spiky leaves and purple flowers, the spear thistle can spread quickly, overpowering other species of plants, and causing\u00a0harm to surrounding vegetation and crops. If\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0found in your garden it can land you a fine of up to \u00a32,500.\u00a0<\/p>
Common ragwort<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Horse](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2019\/08\/horse-grazing-near-ragwort-by-jonpic-6f94dc7.jpg\")
Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure> Common ragwort<\/a>\u00a0may not be illegal,\u00a0but it\u00a0is poisonous to\u00a0most mammals\u00a0and\u00a0actually has its own\u00a0government\u00a0Code of Practice<\/a>. This\u00a0seeks to control the spread where there is a threat to the health and welfare of animals. You are legally required to remove ragwort if there is a risk of\u00a0it\u00a0poisoning horses <\/a>and\u00a0livestock<\/a>, or\u00a0spreading to fields used\u00a0in food\u00a0production.<\/p>
- How deadly is ragwort poisonous to horses and livestock?<\/a><\/li>
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Broad-leaved dock<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/07\/Broad-leaved-dock.jpg\")
Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure> Known\u00a0to\u00a0many Brits as a\u00a0natural\u00a0antidote to nettle stings, broad-leaved docks<\/a> are listed as \u2018injurious\u2019 under the 1959 Weeds Act. So,\u00a0while it\u2019s not an offence to have broad-leaved\u00a0docks growing in your garden, they\u2019re incredibly invasive\u00a0\u2013\u00a0spreading by wind, water, animals and machinery\u00a0\u2013\u00a0with up to 60,000 seeds produced each year. Although they\u2019re\u00a0not poisonous, it can take decades to fully eradicate them.<\/p>
Curled dock<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/07\/curled-dock-scaled.jpg?fit=1024,1024\")
Olivier Pichard, CC BY-SA 3.0 https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure> Similar to\u00a0its\u00a0broad-leaved\u00a0sibling, the curled dock leaf may not contain any toxins,\u00a0but it\u2019s highly invasive. It\u2019s an incredibly flexible plant\u00a0\u2013\u00a0it can take root and grow almost anywhere, is very difficult to eradicate and will outcompete most UK species.<\/p>
Rhododendron\u00a0ponticum<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/07\/Rhododendron-ponticum.jpg\")
Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure> This\u00a0lilac-bloomed\u00a0plant\u00a0\u2013 also called the common rhododendron \u2013\u00a0can be grown on your property, but great care\u00a0must be taken\u00a0to stop it spreading to neighbouring properties or outside your boundaries. Over the past few years, this plant has caused huge problems for native UK species,\u00a0encroaching and\u00a0\u2018choking\u2019\u00a0them out of where they would usually grow.\u00a0The government has been under increasing pressure to\u00a0take action\u00a0against this\u00a0invasive plant.<\/p>
Himalayan\u00a0balsam<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/07\/Himalayan-balsam.jpg\")
Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure> Himalayan\u00a0balsam is often compared to Japanese\u00a0knotweed due to its\u00a0highly\u00a0invasive and spreading nature. While\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not illegal to grow\u00a0it\u00a0in your garden, it\u2019s almost impossible to stop it from spreading\u00a0\u2013\u00a0which\u00a0is\u00a0an offence\u00a0\u2013\u00a0given that it can be easily transferred by the wind, water and animals.\u00a0<\/p>
New Zealand\u00a0pigmyweed<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/07\/Crassula-helmsii.jpg?fit=1024,1024\")
y ashley BALSAM baz – Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=21022252<\/figcaption><\/figure> Water-based\u00a0New Zealand\u00a0pigmyweed\u00a0was first sold in the UK as an ornamental plant for domestic ponds. However, it was\u00a0subsequently\u00a0banned after causing damage to rivers and lakes. As this plant grows, it knots together to form a dense mat, spreading quickly across the ground and depleting nearby plants of oxygen. Once it takes hold in the ground and starts to spread, it can be incredibly difficult to eradicate completely.<\/p>
Three-cornered garlic<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/07\/Three-cornered-garlic.jpg\")
Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure> Finally, we\u00a0have\u00a0three-cornered garlic<\/a>. As with\u00a0a few\u00a0of the plants\u00a0on this list,\u00a0it\u2019s not prohibited to grow it in your own garden, but\u00a0it\u2019s illegal to allow it to spread\u00a0further afield. <\/p>
Easily\u00a0identifiable\u00a0by its white pendulous flowers, the large seeds\u00a0it\u00a0produces\u00a0attract ants<\/a>, which\u00a0then spread it elsewhere, allowing it to take root on roadsides, verges, fields, woodlands and waste\u00a0ground. So,\u00a0while you\u00a0can\u00a0be extra careful,\u00a0with\u00a0no intention of allowing it to spread, you may have little say in the matter!<\/p>
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- Discover poisonous plants to cats: Cats Protection warn about the deadly plants to avoid if you have cats<\/a><\/li>
- Discover plants poisonous to horses: from heart issues to blindness and even death, these toxic plants can cause an array of issues for equine<\/a><\/li>
- How to identify common ‘weeds’<\/a><\/li>