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Do you have a question about PlantRight or invasive plants? Read through our Frequently Asked Questions and click on them to find the answers you're looking for! For remaining questions, please contact us here.

1. What is PlantRight?
2. What is Cal-HIP?
3. Who manages Cal-HIP?
4. Is this a voluntary program?
5. What is an invasive plant?
6. Are all non-native plants bad?
7. Why are invasive plants a problem?
8. How do invasive plants get into natural areas?
9. Are there alternatives to invasive species?
10. What if I have an invasive plant already growing in my yard?
11. There's an invasive plant I expected to see as part of the PlantRight program. Where can I find out more about it?
12. Who should get involved in PlantRight?

1. What is PlantRight?
   PlantRight is a voluntary partnership to help gardeners and the horticultural industry to proactively address the problem of invasive plants in the trade. It is guided by a steering committee called California Horticultural Invasives Prevention (Cal-HIP). There's more information about Cal-HIP here.
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2. What is Cal-HIP?
   Cal-HIP stands for California Horticultural Invasives Prevention, the multi-stakeholder group that guides the PlantRight campaign. Learn more about the Cal-HIP steering committee here.
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3. Who manages Cal-HIP?
   Cal-HIP relies on the time, energy, and expertise of all the steering committee members. Terri Kempton, from the San Francisco-based non-profit group Sustainable Conservation, facilitates and manages the group. You can contact Cal-HIP with questions about the organization.
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4. Is this a voluntary program?
   Absolutely. Cal-HIP is a collaborative, voluntary group that involves the horticultural industry in every decision. Recommendations are based on scientific information, and Cal-HIP has a transparent and inclusive process for addressing this important issue. We invite everyone to join us in the dialogue about invasive plants.
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5. What is an invasive plant?
   The term "invasive plant" describes an introduced species that out-competes native plants and animals for space and resources - and is often difficult to remove or control. Learn more about what invasive plants are and their effects.
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6. Are all non-native plants bad?
   No! There are countless beautiful non-native plants that are not invasive. In fact, most of the species we use in our gardens and landscaping are originally from other places, and you will find many of them in our lists of recommended alternatives to invasive plants. If you are interested in learning more about native plant options, please contact our partner organization, the California Native Plant Society.
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7. Why are invasive plants a problem?
   A few vigorous horticultural plants can escape from cultivation into open landscapes and cause a variety of ecological problems. They crowd out native plants, insects and animals, and can lead to flooding, fire and crop losses. Invasive species are a leading threat to biodiversity, second only to habitat destruction. Invasive plants are expensive, too - in California, more than $85 million goes to fighting invasive species every year. Read more about the effect of invasive plants.
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8. How do invasive plants get into natural areas?
   California's wildlands are new territory for these plants, and they don't have the predators that normally limit their growth in their home environment. This allows them to proliferate, spread, and overtake natural habitat. Each invasive plant has its own strategy for growth and dispersal. Some have seeds that are spread by the wind, like pampas grass, whose seeds can be blown up to two miles away. Others have seeds that are carried by water or eaten by birds and animals that deposit them far from the parent plant. There are also species that reproduce vegetatively, like Arundo that sprouts new shoots from fallen stalks.
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9. Are there alternatives to invasive species?
   Yes! There are many excellent plant species that can replace an invasive species in a garden or landscape. Learning about invasives is an invitation to be creative and promote new plants to customers. This website lists recommended alternatives to the invaders in your region that are beautiful, vigorous, and appropriate for the local climate.
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10. What if I have an invasive plant already growing in my yard?
    We encourage you to consider removing the invasive plant, especially if you are near natural areas. Find beautiful, non-invasive alternative plants at your local garden center or get some ideas here. To learn more about how to remove problem plants, the California Invasive Plant Council has information on removal techniques and conducts wildland weed workshops.
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11. There's an invasive plant I expected to see as part of the PlantRight program. Where can I find out more about it?
    The horticultural plants identified by PlantRight were carefully analyzed using objective, scientific criteria, including information on existing invasions and their effects on wildland areas. Some invasive species have unanswered questions - and before making recommendations about these plants, we are working with researchers and scientists to get solid information that can help guide our actions. See the list of plants undergoing research.
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12. Who should get involved in PlantRight?
    Home owners can have gorgeous gardens AND protect the environment by planting right. Landscaping professionals, nurseries, and growers can boost business with eco-friendly practices. Resource managers and weed workers can protect their lands by sharing the PlantRight program with their community. Everyone plays a role in protecting California from invasive plants!
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