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Seeds & Alien species

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  • 04-08-2007 10:45pm
    #1
    valen
    Registered Users Posts: 216 ✭✭


    Hey...I'm looking to get a hold of the following seeds;

    Myrica gale
    Achillea millefolium
    Rhododendron tomentosum or Rhododendron groenlandicum
    Artemisia vulgaris
    Artemisia absinthium

    The idea is I want to make a small herb garden with some of these herbs that were very popular in medieval Europe. A friend has offered to send some over from his garden in New York, but I'm nervous about importing possibly alien species without a licence.

    So does anyone:
    Know where I could get them (seeds, plants or herbs) in Ireland (first two seem easy enough over the internet from abroad).
    If there is someone I could contact to find out do I need to get a licence
    If it would be bad to plant some or all of these species in the wild, and let them grow on a roadside etc.

    Any answers would be good, as long as the end result is that I can get a hold of some of the herbs in the end !

    John


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    #2
    hobie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,338 ✭✭✭hobie


    I always worry about the use/propogation of anything called VULGARIS after planting a variety in my pond that took over the complete surface very quickly ..... I was literally removing it by the wheelbarrow load every few weeks ..... :(

    I looked up the 'Artemisia vulgaris' in your list and found some worrying characteristics ....

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mugwort

    You are certainly correct to do some detailed research before introducing anything into Ireland that may do more harm than good .... :rolleyes:


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    #3
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,589 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Myrica Gale (bog myrtle) is available as a cultivated plant, and therefore may well be available from a good garden centre.

    Achillia and both artimesias are common and widespread in the wild in both of these islands. Artemesia absinthum possibly less so.

    I can't help you with the rhododendrons.

    http://www.edirectory.co.uk/chilternseeds/pages/index.asp?cid=211

    Chiltern seeds (link above) do a huge range of seeds which would probably be of help.

    I would be reluctant to sow any seeds in the wild, but I could not see any problem with putting the ones you have mentioned (apart from the rhododendron) in a herb bed as they are all very common.

    (where did that 'thumbs up' come from)


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    #4
    valen
    Registered Users Posts: 216 ✭✭valen


    A friend offered to me me use his conservatory to grow them (might also guarantee a crop, for a change).

    Any idea of possible legal problems importing from the US, without going through the dept. of agriculture etc. ?

    I'd a look through the regulations, and they seem more concerned with making sure that you don't bring in seeds that the Irish agriculture industry relies on.

    John


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