Woodland charity calls on public to report garden centres selling Rhododendron

The Woodland Trust Scotland has launched a campaign to track the sale of Rhododendron ponticum, a shrub introduced from Asia to gardens across the British Isles centuries ago for its ornamental appeal. The charity said the plant has since spread into woodland habitats, where it outcompetes native species and threatens biodiversity.

Despite the cost of removing it from the countryside running into millions of pounds for Scottish taxpayers, the charity said the plant can still be bought and sold in garden centres.

Woodland Trust Scotland is calling for a change in the law to ban its sale and is asking members of the public to report sightings of ponticum being sold.

Simon Ritchie, policy and advocacy manager at Woodland Trust Scotland, said the current situation allowed the problem to continue.

“It is already an offence to allow ponticum to grow in the wild, but perfectly legal to plant it in your garden, from where its seeds can spread freely,” he said.

“That’s exactly what has happened historically.

“Some may say the horse has already bolted and it’s not worth shutting the stable door – the problem is out there already, not being planted. But we disagree. We are spending millions of pounds as a country mopping up a mess without first switching off the tap.

“It is insanity and grossly irresponsible in our duty to future generations.”

The charity said previous voluntary efforts to tackle the spread of invasive rhododendron had achieved limited success. Gardeners have been encouraged to choose alternative shrubs, while garden centres have been discouraged from selling the species, but the charity argues the plant remains available and continues to spread.

“A voluntary approach to tackling this problem of invasive rhododendron has had limited success,” Mr Ritchie said.

“Gardeners have been encouraged to choose other shrubs for their gardens, and garden centres have been discouraged from selling it. Yet it’s still being sold, still being planted, and still spreading. We think the time for further action is now.”

The Woodland Trust Scotland is also warning gardeners that other rhododendron varieties may pose similar risks if they have been grafted onto ponticum rootstock or hybridised with the invasive species.

Mr Ritchie added: “We want to work with the garden centres, not against them, but that starts by building evidence of the scale of the problem. We know ponticum is being sold out there – we just don’t know how much.”

The charity said its long-term aim was for the plant’s sale to be prohibited, while also encouraging garden centres to remove it from their stock voluntarily.

“Other rhododendrons can be fine, unless they’re hybridised or use ponticum rootstock,” Mr Ritchie said.

“As a first step, we’re asking people to send us photos of ponticum for sale. We’re absolutely not asking for anyone to confront garden centres – some could be selling it unwittingly.

“We will use the information sent in to build a picture of the problem, then address it in an organised and respectful manner.”