A shopper has sparked outrage after spotting an invasive plant, creeping Charlie, for sale at a Lowe’s Garden Center. The discovery, shared on Reddit’s r/Landscaping forum, included a photo of the plant priced at $4.48 and a plea: “Please, for the love of god, don’t purchase this.”
Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is notorious for aggressively spreading across lawns, choking native plants like clover, and damaging ecosystems. The Reddit user warned that the plant “smothers and suffocates other species,” sharing a second image showing creeping Charlie overtaking a lawn. Experts confirm the concerns, noting the plant can dominate gardens rapidly, forcing homeowners into months of labor to remove it.
Native plants, by contrast, offer benefits like reduced water use, lower maintenance, and support for pollinators. This makes the sale of invasive species like creeping Charlie at major retailers especially frustrating. Commenters on Reddit expressed disbelief, with one joking, “I get it for free from the neighbor,” while others criticized Lowe’s: “Why would they carry this? We battle it every year.”
The incident highlights a broader issue. Retail chains like Home Depot have also sold invasive plants, such as elephant ear and periwinkle, often without warning labels. Critics argue corporate retailers prioritize profit over ecological impact, urging shoppers to support local nurseries that prioritize native species.
“Corporate doesn’t care about invasives,” one Redditor wrote. “Shop local if you want plants that won’t harm your neighborhood.”
The debate raises questions about responsible gardening. As homeowners increasingly seek eco-friendly yards, the demand for native plants grows—but so does the risk of unintended damage from invasive options.
