A compact, full-colour field guide to the growing number of invasive plant species spreading across coastal BC and the Pacific Northwest, highlighting their hazards and uses.

The spread of invasive plant species is a growing concern across the coastal Pacific Northwest. Invasive plants compete for space with native plants, alter the natural habitat, and even interfere with the diets of local wildlife. Hundreds of these species are so commonly seen in our backyards, forests, and roadsides, that many people do not even realize that these plants are not native to this region.

Designed for amateur naturalists, gardeners, and foragers, Invasive Flora of the West Coast is a clear, concise, full-colour guide to identifying and demystifying more than 170 invasive plant species in our midst, from Evening primrose to Scotch broom. Featuring colour photography, origin and etymology, safety tips and warnings, as well as historical uses, this book is practical, user-friendly, and portable for easy, on-the-go identification.

Collin Varner is a horticulturalist/arboriculturalist. Over his forty-year career, he worked at the University of British Columbia’s Botanical Garden, assumed responsibility for conserving 25,000 trees across campus, and taught courses in native plant studies. Now retired, Varner is an avid photographer, world traveller, and bestselling author of a series of nature guidebooks, including The Flora and Fauna of Coastal British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, Edible and Medicinal Flora of the West Coast, Invasive Flora of the West Coast, and the award-winning The Flora and Fauna of Stanley Park.

Collin Varner's profile page

“Varner’s latest contribution reveals the astonishing diversity of plants, vines, shrubs, and trees that crossed continents and oceans to take root in our backyard. Like the teeming collection of uninvited guests it describes, this guide would be appalling if it weren’t so wondrous. A concise and vivid gem.”
—Arno Kopecky, author of The Environmentalist's Dilemma

“Collin Varner has ticked yet another much-needed field-guide box with his latest book. This tidy volume describes more than 170 of the region's bad horticultural actors with concise descriptions and plenty of fascinating cultural tidbits, all illustrated and many with Varner's own excellent photographs.”
—Douglas Justice, Associate Director, Horticulture & Collections, UBC Botanical Garden

“Invasive plants are the second greatest threat to biodiversity and are often found in and around the communities in which we live and play. This accessible guide offers readers a solid resource, enabling all of us to be more self-reliant in confidently identifying plants causing some of the greatest damage to our gardens, backyards, natural areas, and sensitive farm habitats. This book belongs on the shelves of everyone who enjoys our natural spaces, and who wants to ensure healthy landscapes for generations to come.”
—Gail Wallin, Executive Director, Invasive Species Council of BC"