This question is meant to relate business behaviors with the personal behaviors of the respondents. 76 participants responded to question 13. 25 (33%) admitted to have planted an invasive plant in their own garden, 46/76 (61%) said that they had not. Of the 25 who said they had, 21 provided an explanation as to why. Those who admitted that they’d planted an invasive plant can at least be considered informed about invasive plants and aware of the issue. Only two said that they disagreed with the classification of invasive for the plant.

4 respondents said that they wanted to test whether the plant was invasive, while one more said that “no scientific data was available for that plant at that time.” 3 of these five mentioned the need for science in Q28, which asked what sort of information they would like to receive on invasive plants in the future. 3 said more science was needed in current laws and regulations (Q19), 2 of whom also mentioned science in Q28. All said that scientific proof would convince them to stop selling invasive plants (Q21a). These five respondents represent a segment of the nursery industry that is not willing to take claims of invasibility with blind faith. They represent a challenge to those who wish to follow the precautionary principle.

10 respondents liked a trait of the plants, such as its flower color, felt it was pretty, or wanted it to spread where they planted it. 2 of these respondents also said that they felt that they could control the plant in their garden. These respondents may have known that a plant was considered invasive but they did not care – or did not feel it could cause harm - enough to refrain from planting it.

5 total respondents thought that they would be able to control the plant in their own garden, through deadheading or other means. One respondent dug up their invasive plant after they moved. Reichard and White (2000) discuss this attitude as one of the objections that some nurseries have against controlling the sales of invasive plants. Nurseries feel that as long as gardeners are informed of a plant’s invasive characteristics, they will plant it in a responsible location and keep it from getting out of control – as these five nurseries felt that they could do. Unfortunately, not every gardener is as vigilant as the one that dug it up, so many plants may still escape.

2 of the respondents who said that they had planted an invasive plant said that they did not know that it was invasive at the time, indicating that more information would have prompted them to act responsibly

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