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Invasive neophytes are still being sold on the Internet as if they weren’t a problem. But soon it will be over.
Invasive neophytes should be put an end to. These are alien plants that are spreading rapidly in this country and threatening native biodiversity. Across the country, various communities are taking action against the problem plants. They are torn out by the roots and incinerated in special neophyte sacks. This is to prevent them from spreading their seeds further, as is the case with green waste.
Cherry laurel, summer lilac and the like have meanwhile been largely banned from the ranges in the local retail trade, with the major distributors and in the garden centers. But you can still find them on the Internet, as a listener to the SRF consumer magazine “Espresso” found out. She wonders: “Why can you buy something that you shouldn’t plant anymore?”.
Cherry laurel from Dutch online shops
The agronomist Samuel Kappeler, who advises several communities in the Bernese Seeland in their fight against invasive neophytes, agrees that this is actually a contradiction that is difficult to understand. “Especially in the Netherlands there are still several large plant producers who grow such plants and send them via the Internet.”
For example the companies Heijnen and Heckentotal. They offer fresh and cheerful cherry laurel as an evergreen and popular hedge plant. The “.ch” ending in the internet address suggests that it is a Swiss shop. When “Espresso” asked why they were still selling invasive neophytes, Heijnen did not respond. Heckentotal only writes back succinctly that you can get all the information about their range of plants on their website.
Expert calls for sales ban and clearing obligation
In fact, these shops do something questionable, but basically nothing forbidden. The plants may still be sold in Switzerland for the time being. Therefore, a ban on the sale of invasive neophytes is needed quickly, demands agronomist Kappeler. And he believes that landowners should be obliged to clear the invasive neophytes. If you need a hedge, you can also use local alternatives such as privet, yew, holly, hornbeam or spruce.
The ban is on its way
At least with the demand for a sales ban, he runs into open doors at the federal government. Such a ban has been in the works for a long time, prompted by a Motion in the National Council.
In addition to the sale and import, the exchange, gifting and lending of certain invasive, non-native plants such as cherry laurel or summer lilac are also to be prohibited. According to the responsible Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the necessary adjustment of the Release Ordinance is in progress and still has to be approved by the Federal Council. So it will probably be several months before the ban comes into effect.