Q22 asked respondents whether they felt customers would buy plants if they were aware that they were invasive. 27/72 (38%) said that they would; 26/72 (36%) said they wouldn’t; and 19/72 (26%) did not know.

When asked “why or why not?”, those who believed customers would not buy invasive plants explained that their customers cared about the environment (4), that most invasive plants can be substituted easily (1), that “most gardeners will do the right thing” (1), and that buyers (for retail nurseries) need more information about invasive plants, but once they have it, they will not buy invasives. One respondent seemd confused by the wording of the question because they answered “no” but then preceded to say that some customers want invasive plants “for their hardiness and to fill large voids.”

Respondents who chose “yes” and “don’t know” had similar reasons for doubting customers’ choices. 5 (one of whom didn’t answer the yes/no/don’t know portion) felt that customers don’t understand the problem and its consequences well enough to change their behavior. 6 felt that some customers simply don’t care whether or not they effect the environment (“some plant ‘nuts’ want a plant no matter what”). 3 felt customers responded more to plants’ attractiveness than their destructiveness. One respondent felt that it is a customer’s “right” to buy whatever plant they choose; another felt that banning plants actually creates an interest for them. 2 respondents said that they felt their customers are currently knowledgeable and yet still buy invasive plants. 2 felt that most customers, but not all, would respond if they knew a plant was invasive. One said, “ Most people will respond if they know the effect. Some [invasive plants] are attractive at times but not habit forming or addictive.” The other said, “Most of our customers are interested in native and non-invasive plants, but not all. We can't control how they think or their actions, so we try to lead by example. As propagators we are in a good position to do that.”2 respondents who did not know what customers would do said that “customers are unpredictable.”