Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a potential ban of the sale of rhododendron ponticum in Scotland.
We are aware that there have been calls for a ban on sale of Rhododendron ponticum, most recently in the Woodland Trust’s 2021 Rhododendron in the Rainforest report. However, there are challenges associated with such a ban.
The taxonomy of invasive rhododendron is complex. Rhododendron ponticum is used as a root stock and sold as different domesticated varieties; it is not known to be particularly invasive. The invasive rhododendron in the countryside and older garden plantings is thought to be the result of hybridization with the Appalachian species Rhododendron catawbiense. A significant amount of genetic research would be required to define what the hybrid is before its sale could be prohibited and to develop a reliable genetic test that could be used in inspections and enforcement. It is believed currently that only a small proportion of the plants sold as Rhododendron ponticum are thought to be invasive hybrid rhododendron.
In addition, the UK Internal Market Act 2020 would have potentially raised questions as to the legal effect of any Scotland-only ban.