MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 9, 2022
Under a proposed list of plant species that could become illegal to import to or sell in the state, Mainers would lose out on some popular landscape plants, such as Rosa rugosa – but that’s probably a good thing. Several highly popular trees, shrubs and perennials are included on that list of 63 species. Many of the others, however, I’d never even heard of before. The stakeholder committee that is charged with coming up with the plants to be banned plans to finalize its list on Jan. 18, according to State Horticulturist Gary Fish. The new list will be added to the 33 plants prohibited about five years ago. Many gardeners are shifting to native plants, anyway. And there are many non-natives without harmful side effects. ~ Tom Atwell