06/07/2025
Info n Tips on Buying Non Toxic Plants... 💚💜🧡
The reason I started growing my own plants 15 years ago is because I needed to know for sure that my milkweed was pesticide free. This made me look at the practices of commercial growers first hand. Estimates say that approximately 75% of plants are treated with Imidacloprid, the most widely used insecticide in the world since the 90s, most people have never heard of.
We could see caterpillars die in front of us, but what about pollinators? They usually fly off and die out of sight.
I hope this piece helps you understand
Neonicotinoids (“neonics”) are a class of systemic insecticides widely used in agriculture and horticulture—including many of the plants and seeds sold at garden centers. While effective against pests, these chemicals pose significant risks to pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as to broader ecosystems and even birds and aquatic life.
Why Should Gardeners Care About Neonicotinoids?
• Systemic Action: Neonics are absorbed by plants and distributed throughout all tissues—including leaves, roots, nectar, and pollen. This means pollinators feeding on treated plants can ingest harmful doses, even if the pesticide was applied weeks or months before blooming.
• Pollinator Decline: Scientific studies show that exposure to neonicotinoids impairs bees’ ability to forage, navigate, and reproduce, leading to reduced pollination services and lower crop yields.
• Ecosystem Impact: Neonics don’t just affect target pests. They can persist in soil and water for years, harming beneficial insects, birds, and aquatic organisms, and disrupting entire food webs.
• Invisible Risk: Plants treated with neonics look no different from untreated ones. There’s no way to tell just by looking whether a plant is pollinator-friendly or hazardous.
What Can You Do as a Plant Buyer?
• Ask Before You Buy: Always ask garden center or nursery staff if their plants have been treated with neonicotinoids. Many retailers are responding to consumer demand for neonic-free plants, but not all have phased them out.
• Look for Labels: Some nurseries and retailers now label plants as “neonicotinoid-free.” Seek out these labels or ask for documentation.
• Choose Local or Organic Nurseries: Smaller, local nurseries are often more transparent about their pest management practices. Many organic growers and specialty nurseries have committed to not using neonics.
• Support Retailers with Pollinator Policies: National chains like Whole Foods Market and various regional nurseries have adopted policies restricting or eliminating neonic use in their plant offerings.
• Promote Native Plants: Native species typically require fewer chemical inputs and support local pollinators better than non-native ornamentals.
• Educate and Advocate: Let retailers know that neonic-free plants matter to you. Increased consumer awareness is driving change in the industry.
Common Neonicotinoids to Watch For
• Imidacloprid
• Thiamethoxam
• Clothianidin
• Thiacloprid
• Dinotefuran
• Acetamiprid
• Nitenpyram
• Sulfoxaflor
These may appear under various brand names in garden products—always check labels and ask questions.
Why Your Choices Matter
Pollinators are responsible for more than a third of our food supply. By choosing neonicotinoid-free plants, you help protect bees, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife—and send a powerful message to the horticulture industry that safer, pollinator-friendly practices are a priority.
“Because neonics are systemic pesticides, all parts of the plant, including the nectar and pollen, become toxic to bees. These pesticides linger in the soil and the plant itself, affecting pollinators even many weeks or months after their application.”
