Wildly beautiful but caution should be taken with invasive plants

Peter Dowdall urges caution with certain plants, like anemone, montbretia, which can be invasive

We are heading into that time again when people will take notice of those beautiful, simple, pink and white blooms of the Wandflower or Japanese Anemone. Those familiar with the plant will shudder at the thought of it, and those who don’t know it at close quarters yet, may well bring some specimens home from the garden centre and plant in their own unsuspecting plot.

Don’t do it. Do not plant this thug in the open ground, don’t be fooled by its pretty and innocent looking flowers as it will turn into an undesirable in your garden. It will push out everything around it, bullying its neighbours in its relentless search for more space to colonise.