By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse,  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In 1850, Scottish Army Capt. Walter Colquhoun Grant planted a European perennial shrub on his farm on T’Sou-ke Nation’s traditional territory (Sooke). He thought the shrub — Cytisus scorparius in Latin — would bring back nostalgia of his Scottish homeland, covered with hills of yellow flowers.

One-hundred and seventy-five years later, this shrub is now one of the most notorious invasive species on Vancouver Island known colloquially as Scotch broom. Vast areas of the Island are covered in this plant, exhibiting what a changed landscape can look like if invasive plants are allowed to spread and take over. It competes with native plants, disrupts streams and has no known natural predators. It can also live up to 25 years and produces seeds that can survive in the soil for 30 years. 

Scotch broom is also extremely flammable, leading to growing concern as the climate changes and Earth warms.