DOWNLOAD THE FREE LiSTNR APP

Bunnings urged to ban potentially ‘disastrous’ garden plant

Bunnings has been urged to stop selling a popular garden item that could permanently damage native Australian landscapes.

English Ivy, or Hedera Helix, has fast-growing roots that can easily clog waterways and strangle native trees and bushland.

Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The National Briefing – keeping you in the loop with news as it hits:

The Invasive Species Council said escaped garden plants have already contributed to at least four Australian plant extinctions and cost the agriculture industry over $4.3 billion to manage each year.

Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough said it was “disappointing” to see retailers like Bunnings sell the plant.

RELATED:   Could drug kingpin Tony Mokbel soon be free?

“I think most Australians would be horrified to know that the plants that they could go and pick up (from a nursery) could actually be an environmental disaster,” Gough said.

The council are calling for Australians to sign a petition to ban destructive weeds.

English ivy and gazania are listed as ‘highly invasive’ on the Victorian government’s advisory list of environmental weeds.

Both non-native plants are readily available at nurseries across the country, for as little as $5.50.

Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on Listnr today. The Briefing serves up the latest news headlines and a deep dive into a topic affecting you. All in under 20 minutes.