Washington Native Plant Society

Dear Plant Enthusiasts:

The Washington Weed Control Board has listed four common cultivars of English ivy as Class C noxious weeds:

Hedera helix 'Baltica'

Hedera helix 'Pittsburgh'

Hedera helix 'Star'

Hedera hibernica 'Hibernica'

Many groups in the Seattle area are currently removing English ivy from local parks and open spaces. As part of our educational outreach and to help prevent re-establishment of ivy in cleared areas, we are contacting local nurseries to encourage them to help prevent the spread of English ivy by refusing to sell it.

Class C noxious weed designation is commonly used for weeds that are so well established that their extermination is impractical. Nevertheless, Class C status gives counties the option of imposing regulations. In King County ivy control methods are so far based on educational outreach. King County has listed English ivy as a weed of concern, and has produced a brochure about the invasive potential of English ivy, which we strongly encourage you to read.

We hope that nurseries will refuse to sell English ivy as a responsible choice for promoting the health of our native forests and parklands. As an additional small incentive for nurseries to cooperate, the Washington Native Plant Society has agreed to list nurseries that promise not to sell ivy on their Ivy Off Urban Trees (Ivy OUT) website (www.ivyout.org). This list will help native plant enthusiasts and other gardeners to choose to support environmentally responsible nurseries. The website also lists native plant alternatives to English ivy that you may wish to sell instead. If you agree not to sell English ivy and would like to be on the list of ivy-free nurseries, please fill out the form below and mail it to Ivy OUT, c/o Washington Native Plant Society, 7400 Sandpoint Way NE Bld 30, Seattle, Washington, 98115.

Your cooperation can help make a tremendous difference in the future health of our parks and forests. As plant lovers, we are sure you will want to support this effort. Please contact IvyOUT, or the King County Weed Control Board if you have questions about English ivy and its control.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Washington Native Plant Society,

Central Puget Sound Chapter

Ivy-Free Nursery Listing

Yes, please list us as an ivy-free nursery on the Ivy OUT website!

We promise not to sell English ivy in our nursery.

Authorizing signature______________________________________________________

Name of nursery__________________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Phone number____________________________________________________________

E-mail__________________________________________________________________

URL____________________________________________________________________

We sell native plants: Yes No

We would like to distribute information on ivy in our store: Yes No

Please mail this form to:

IvyOUT

c/o Washington Native Plant Society

7400 Sandpoint Way NE Bldg. 30

Seattle, Washington 98115