UKC

I remember the first time I saw this plant, only about 5 years back. It was growing very fetchingly all over an old bit of sloping walling in a botanic garden near the Mull of Galloway. Now it is absolutely everywhere! Just coming to the end of a month wandering around France, and it seems to be taking over here as well.

Is it time it was treated as an invasive species?

I didn't think I knew what it was so I looked it up... I have a container with it in the front garden! It's very vigorous so I'm not surprised it's spreading. 

When I looked it up I also found this:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/news/2024/Research-News/Gardeners-can-help-identi... 
"The shortlisted plants include, for example: Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus); cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias);chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata); Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa); and purple top (Verbena bonariensis)."

Thought this would as going to be some Game of Thrones nonsense...

Won't invade our garden, tried it and it died. 

Seems a little harsh.

I think they're lovely - work well in dry spots with little soil and are good at ground coverage, also in drystone walls, etc.

Also it has an RHS Award of Garden Merit, if you value that kind of thing.

Thanks for the link - very interesting. Not surprised that also on the list is Verbena bonariensis, which magically sets seed all over the garden. It’s another “fashionable” garden plant, which is now very widespread, though 10  or 15 years ago it was a real novelty. Also not surprised to see Houttuynia cordata there. I have planted some recently in the most isolated and inauspicious part of the garden where I just want some jaunty ground cover. But i have a friend who can barely pull it out as fast as it grows….

I agree, it’s very appealing, but if it gets really established - your liking may be tested. Today I saw it spreading high up the walls of a river bridge, up to 4 metres above the ground. At the top the bridge had a little overhang with a row of swallow nests and it was beginning to hide them. Not sure about how this will work out when the swallows return next spring.

Yes, I do take note of RHS AGM  awards. But it’s not unknown for them to withdraw the honour.

My Mum was trying to get this to take between the pavers on their patio. She spent a few years trying to plant plugs to no avail. Then, she gave up and just put a couple of potted plants on the patio instead.

10 years later, my Mum has passed and my Dad is cursing her name every summer as the plants that self-seeded from the pots grow to knee-high all over the patio and prevent him from using it.

I can see why people like it in gardens - it's good for dry spots, ground cover and adding some greenery to "hard" areas. I haven't seen too much of it in the wild outside of gardens, but that may change...I can't deny that it does spread when given a toe-hold!

Yes, you need to be careful what you wish for.