Invasive Flora of the West Coast

A compact, full-colour field guide to the growing number of invasive plant species spreading across coastal BC and the Pacific Northwest, highlighting their hazards and uses.

The spread of invasive plant species is a growing concern across the coastal Pacific Northwest. Invasive plants compete for space with native plants, alter the natural habitat, and even interfere with the diet of local wildlife. Hundreds of these species are so commonly seen in our backyards, forests, and roadsides, that many people do not even realize that these plants are not native to this region.

Designed for amateur naturalists, gardeners, and foragers, Invasive Flora of the West Coast is a clear, concise, full-colour guide to identifying and demystifying more than 200 invasive plant species in our midst, from Scotch broom to Evening Primrose. Featuring colour photography, origin and etymology, safety tips and warnings, as well as common uses, this book is practical, user-friendly, and portable for easy, on-the-go identification.

Collin Varner is a horticulturalist/arboriculturalist. He began his career at the University of British Columbia’s Botanical Garden, and over the next forty years he assumed responsibility for conserving 25,000 trees across campus and taught courses in native plant studies. Now retired, Varner is an avid photographer, world traveler, and bestselling author of The Flora and Fauna of Coastal British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest and Edible and Medicinal Flora of the West Coast.