Better to bee safe than sorry!
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- Published on Tuesday, 12 May 2015 17:15
- Written by editor
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Hi PAOV,
Spring has sprung and this long weekend, like many Canadians, you may head out to buy ornamental plants for your garden.
When you do – please bee careful!
Be careful not to accidentally buy plants that have been contaminated with bee-killing neonicotinoids (neonics). Studies have shown that approximately 50% of ornamental plants sold in Canada have been pre-treated with neonics.
Neonics are a widely used class of pesticides that are very toxic to bees and other wild pollinators. In tiny doses – even just a few nanograms – neonics can kill bees or cause serious sub-lethal impacts such as impaired memory and learning, disorientation, reduced efficiency in foraging and lowered resistance to disease. Neonics are a systemic pesticide, which means they are absorbed into the tissues of the plant, including the pollen and nectar!
Check out this recent news story from our Winnipeg office for more on the dangers of neonics.
The good news is many retailers, big and small, are moving towards labeling and phasing out neonics as people are demanding bee-friendly plants.
RONA, Home Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sheridan Nurseries and Art Knapp are just some of the larger retailers who have publicly pledged to label and/or phase out bee-killing neonics. However, this process will likely take a few years, so you must still be wary while purchasing plants this season – if a retailer can’t guarantee their plants are neonic free – don’t buy them. Read this blog post for more detailed information.
Also, please let us know about your experience when buying plants this season. If you know of any other garden centres that are (or are not) going neonic-free, give us a call at 1-800-661-9453 or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We need your on-the-ground help to protect our bees and wild pollinators. Thanks again!
For the bees,
Gwen Barlee | Policy Director
Wilderness Committee
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