Be Plant Wise
Most of us have plants in our gardens that are not native to Ireland and help us to create beautiful gardens to enjoy. However if they escape into the wild, some of them may become invasive, harming our wildlife and environment, the economy, and even the way we live.
You can help to protect the environment by following the Be Plant Wise three simple tips:
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Know what you growChoose the right plants for your garden, pond, aquarium and water feature. |
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Stop the spreadKeep your plants in your garden – don’t plant them or allow them to grow or disperse into the wild. |
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Compost with careDispose of your unwanted plants, roots, weeds and seeds responsibly making sure nothing gets into the wild. We will publish new guidance on composting during 2026. |
Once established, invasive plants are costly to control and the damage they cause can be irreversible.
View species profiles
View species profiles of some of the most invasive plants originally brought into Ireland for our gardens and ponds. Many of these species have spread naturally to the wild from where they were planted. Sometimes their presence in the wild is due to accidental spread or dumping. Report sightings of invasive species: records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/invasives
Click on image to access species profile information.
