Issue 4, May 23, 2017

Neonicotinoids and Milkweeds

A milkweed plant purchased on April 27, 2017 at a home improvement box store in the New Orleans, Louisiana area contained a tag in the pot stating that it had been treated with a neonicotinoid insecticide. The person who bought the plant returned to the store and found approximately 100 more milkweeds with the same tag inserted in their pots. Her finding was reported to National Garden Clubs who contacted Home Depot on May 1. On May 2, a Home Depot official reported back that the plants were labeled in error, that they were not treated with neonicotinoids.


Butterfly milkweed.

Prior to May 2, National Garden Clubs communicated with their state associations about the situation. Garden Clubs of Illinois posted this alert in the milkweed portion of their web site. National Garden Clubs is planning to release a more complete statement on June 1, indicating that the plants were mislabeled.

Garden center plants can be treated with several products which often are listed on the plant's tag.  Check tags thoroughly.  (Phil Nixon)

Author:
Phil Nixon

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