Plants that are 'illegal' if they spread outside garden - the five 'worst offenders'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

With summer fast approaching, keen gardeners will be pruning hedges, planting flowers and pulling up weeds in the garden in preparation for the growing season.But green-fingered fanatics may be surprised to learn that certain plants can actually be illegal if they grow outside your property.

Under UK laws, you could be prosecuted for allowing so-called invasive plants to run riot outside your garden.These invasive species are non-native plants with a propensity to spread uncontrollably and pop up where they're not wanted.

It's against the law to intentionally let these plants take root in the wild or to neglect them in your garden to the point where they become a public nuisance.According to the UK Government, if you find invasive non-native plants on your land, you must stop them from spreading and causing a nuisance or damage to other land or property. "If you do not, you could be responsible for any damage they cause and may be prosecuted," the law states.

It's important to note that these problematic plants aren't limited to weeds; many are available for purchase at local garden centres.