F?RS?LJNING AV OCH INST?LLNING TILL FR?MMANDE V?XTER I TR?DG?RDSBRANSCHEN
Alien plants that have intentionally been introduced to an area for cultivation in public or
private gardens constitute the primary pathway of introduction for invasive alien species that
spread into nature. Garden owners want species that have satisfying characteristics, these
characteristics are often also linked to plant invasiveness. Thus, the horticulture industry plays
an important role by making scientifically based decisions and phasing out invasive plants and
replacing them with alternative species with satisfying characteristics, but low risks of
becoming invasive. This thesis aimed to examine the sale of and the attitudes towards alien
plants in the horticulture industry in Sweden. Alien terrestrial plants identified to have a severe
risk, high risk or potentially high risk of spreading and becoming invasive according to
ArtDatabankens assessment, were examined to see if they were for sale. Twelve assortment
lists were searched to examine which alien plants were for sale. In total 136 species were
included in the search, 77 of these species were found in at least one assortment list and 44 of
the 77 species were sold by 50 percent or more of the companies. To examine the attitudes
towards alien species in the horticulture industry interviews were conducted with six
participants from the horticulture industry. No common attitude towards invasive alien
species could be found, some companies were more positive about how media and agencies
have spread information about invasive alien species whilst some companies were more critical
about how this information has been presented. Some companies are positively inclined to
phase out invasive plants whilst other companies highlighted that invasive species do not have
to be invasive in the whole of Sweden and that one must differentiate pure species from
cultivars. To effectively reduce the spread of potentially invasive plants the collaboration
between the horticulture industry and agencies must be improved.