At this time of year many road edges and woodlands in western Scotland are awash with purple colour as thousands of Rhododendron ponticum bushes come into flower.
But despite this magnificent show of colour, rhododendron ponticum is one of the greatest threats to the sustainability of woodland and forest environments.
The threat is so severe that Forestry Commission Scotland - together with SNH and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, has appointed a dedicated control officer, Liz Poulsom
As well as advising landowners with advice and guidance on rhododendron control, Liz - who is based in Argyll - promotes Scottish Government grant support for rhododendron control projects through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
Liz said:
“Rhododendron ponticum is a non-native invasive shrub that can spread rapidly through woodlands and out into open moorland. It already covers around 4400 ha in mainland Argyll alone and is present across Scotland. It is already posing a concern for protected habitats as far east as Angus.
“The bushes shade out lower ground flora and suppress the regeneration of tree seedlings but they also host two fungal infections (Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae) that can have a negative impact on the surrounding environment and on biodiversity.
“If left unchecked this species could do a lot of damage to Scotland’s important native woodlands so we need to take severe and urgent action.”
Most domestic rhododendrons, grown in gardens for their attractive flowers, pose no threat to wildlife habitats as they tend to stay in the garden.
Unfortunately invasive r ponticum has adapted to our conditions to the extent that it finds a perfect home in the broadleaved woods of the west of scotland where it thrives and expands to the detriment of these woods. It could be described as the 'cuckoo' of the plant world in Scotland - invading natural habitats and forcing out what should be growing there with a consequent detrimental impact on the other dependant fauna and flora.
Anyone who wishes to undertake Rhododendron ponticum control or who wishes to find out more about the species is encouraged to get in touch with Liz on 01738 450799 or liz.poulsom@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
For more information on the grant assistance available through The Scottish Government’s Scottish Rural Development Programme, visit www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP/RuralPriorities/Options/Controlofinvasivenon-nati
Notes to Editors
1) Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government’s forestry directorate and manages the 667,000 hectare national forest estate. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
2) Phytophthora ramorum is more commonly known as "sudden oak death" thanks to its decimation of forests of tanoaks and native North American oak species in the western USA. Britain's two native species of oak (sessile and pedunculate oak), have so far proved to be much less susceptible to infection unless they are standing very close to infected plants such as rhododendron. There have been no cases of infected trees in Scotland to date.
Phytophthora kernoviae There are fewer cases of phytophthora kernoviae but recently it was found to have spread from rhododendrons to Bilberry (also known as Blaeberry), which has severe implications for species such as black Grouse and Capercaillie, which rely on Bilberry particularly for sustaining young chicks in spring.
Media Enquiries
Paul Munro, Forestry Commission Scotland press office 0131 314 6507