[Henrietta]

[quote=Gill Catton;528199]While it may be easy to eradicate from a garden scenario its is almost impossible along a stream or river if everyone on the catchment doesn't participate - which they don't - so it ends up being and on-going concern. It is a massive problem because pollen and nectar for bumble bees isn't enough when a massive block of the stuff along a river corridor out-competes an otherwise diverse floral assemblage that not only provides for bumblebees but also for moths and their caterpillars, butterflies, hoverflies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, bugs etc - I believe even a block of nettles supports more species than himalayan balsam. And by your arguement - Rhododendron which actually supports hundreds of insects by providing a rich pollen and nectar source should be as welcome?[/QU0TE)
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I take your point on damage to river banks but Rhododendron is a toxic nectar plant for bees and there have been cases of honey poisoning in people. I would not site my hives too near it. It also invades streams, totally covering them and blocking out all light. It also covers acres of land in this country poisoning the ground as it goes. And yet we have gardens open to the public, growing nothing but this awful species. Of coase all of these problems stem from introducing foreign plants. In New Zealand they have the most dreadful problem with the Clematis Old Man's Beard, it grows at a tremendous rate covering the natural bush plants. Likewise Gorse which is a fire hazard and spreads like mad. All these plants were introduced by the settlers there.