As people walk around Buttertubs Marsh they often comment how beautiful the yellow flowers look in the marsh.
Unfortunately, those flowers in the marsh are Yellow Flag Iris which is a non-native wetland plant. These plants have spread and threaten to choke out the entire marsh.
Why is the City of Nanaimo not removing the invasive Yellow Flag Iris from Buttertubs Marsh?
Something has to be done now before it’s too late! The City of Nanaimo needs to act quickly to save this valuable wetland from this infestation.
May is ‘Invasive Plant Month’ and yet there is no mention of the Yellow Flag Iris on the city’s website.
*****
Facts about Yellow Flag Iris:
- Their dense roots block water flow (flood issue)
- Stem fragments can form new plants if they break off and drift to suitable habitat.
- Toxic to humans and livestock
- Yellow flag spreads by rhizomes and seeds. Up to several hundred flowering plants may be connected through underground stems.
- Overwintering waterfowl depend on rush seeds as a high energy food source but the rushes are almost totally choked out.
This Saturday, May 31st from 12pm – 3:30 pm at the Bowen Park Wall Street parking lot, Nanaimo residents can drop off invasive plants they have removed from their yards at the ‘Drop Zone’.
