A national trade body is urging householders in Cornwall to become aware of, and help to control, the spread of invasive plants on their doorstep.

Experts at the Property Care Association (PCA) say the public can help contain a range of non-native weeds and prevent their potentially damaging spread.

According to the Association, many popular garden plants could be like Japanese knotweed - one of the UK’s most widely known invasive plants – and are already emerging, potentially providing future generations with a significant ecological, environmental and economic burden.

Members of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group are at the front line supporting the identification of suspect plants, making risk assessments and delivering comprehensive strategies for their effective control and, where necessary, eradication.

To help householders, the PCA has produced a top five list of invasive plants commonly found in UK gardens.

1. Himalayan balsam; this is common alongside rivers and rapidly displaces native flora leading to the erosion of the banks.

2. Japanese rose; similar to the native Dog rose, but it spreads rapidly especially in heathland habitats

3. Montbretia; this plant likes damp conditions and forms dense clumps in a range of habitats.

4. Buddleia; so-called ‘butterfly bush’ but not a food plant for caterpillars so of limited ecological value. Also known for its impact on buildings and masonry.

5. Bamboo; ‘running’ bamboos spread quickly and often out-grow the gardens they’ve been planted in. It spreads via rhizomes in soil and can dominate natural vegetation.

The PCA is issuing the appeal in line with Invasive Species Week, an event run by the GB non-native species secretariat, developed to put the issue in the national spotlight.

Dr Peter Fitzsimons, the technical manager of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group, said: “Invasive non-native plants come in many different forms and sizes.

“Plants including Japanese rose and Montbretia might be a common sight in gardens across the country, but they are among a number of invasive non-native species, including Japanese knotweed, that ‘escape’ from gardens up and down the UK.

“All started out life as garden ornamentals but have taken off to some degree or other in to the wild.

“They need to be managed and controlled to minimise their potential negative impacts on natural ecosystems.

“Invasive Species Week is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness of the issue and keep it in the minds of the public.”

A spokesperson from the GB non-native species secretariat (NNSS) added: “Invasive plants can harm native plants by spreading pests and plant diseases, and competing for space, light, nutrients and water.

“This has a wider impact on other species which rely on native plants, including birds, butterflies and other insects, and could threaten the survival of rare plant species.

“Some invasive plants harm the economy and communities by interfering with agriculture and utilities or make it harder to take part in recreational activities such as fishing, sailing or paddling. Others can even affect our health.

“Once established, invasive plants are costly to control and the damage they cause can be irreversible.

“Pond and aquarium plants can be particularly devastating if they escape into a natural waterbody.”

Further information on plant types can be found in the PCA’s book ‘Practical Management of Invasive Non-Native Weeds in Britain and Ireland’ which offers detailed insight into more than 50 species individually. More details about the book can be found at www.property-care.org/professionals/invasive-weed-control/manual-management-invasive-weeds/

Gardeners can also find out how to help to protect the environment by preventing their garden plants from spreading into the wild at www.nonnativespecies.org/beplantwise

More details about the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group can be found at www.property-care.org/homeowners/invasive-weed-control/