In recent years invasive plants have become a concern in several areas of Cypress Bowl and Hollyburn Ridge. These plants pose a serious threat to the park’s natural environment. Giant Hogweed is also a threat to human health. By learning how to identify and report invasive plants, we can all help to keep them from encroaching on the park’s treasured natural environment.

What are invasive plants?

“Invasive plants” are any non-native plant species that have the potential to pose detrimental impacts on humans, animals or ecosystems. They spread rapidly through seeds and roots, and grow almost anywhere.

Why should we be concerned about invasive plants?

Once established, invasive plants can displace native vegetation and reduce forage opportunities for wildlife, creating areas that are less ecologically diverse, more costly to maintain, and less aesthetic. The Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) has a list of BC’s most ‘unwanted’ Invasive Plants

“Noxious weeds” are invasive plants that have been designated under the BC Weed Control Act. This legislation imposes a duty on all land occupiers, including the Ministry of Environment (BC Parks) to control a set list of identified invasive plants. This site also has links for photo identification of invasive plants.

Scotch broom is designated as highly invasive, but it is not designated as noxious. Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed are designated as both invasive and noxious. Some invasive plants, like dandelions, may be listed as nuisance or problem weeds. Invasive plants can alter water flows, severely degrade riparian zones, destabilize slopes, create fire hazards, and threaten species at risk.

Invasive Plants found at Cypress

There are four invasive plant species of special concern at Cypress.

Reed Canary Grass: (Phalaris arundinacea): This 1-3 m tall, highly invasive wetland grass was first noticed by volunteers in 2011 in the Cypress Creek restoration area east of Cypress Creek Lodge. The seeds may have been brought in with hay used for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but it had been in seed mixes used on the mountain before. The heaviest infestations are around the ski area parking lots and on ski runs where hay was used to bolster the snow. It has also been found in other Cypress Bowl areas and in the Nordic ski area. This coarse perennial grass grows in wet meadows, along creeks and lakes, and in other wet locations, displacing native wetland plants because of its aggressive, dense root system. Reed canary grass is a serious threat to the Yew Lake area and other Cypress wetlands.

In 2015 an inventory was carried out by Diamond Head Consulting in the alpine ski areas of the park where roads, ski runs, buildings and trails have disturbed the soil. Reed Canary Grass was found to be abundantly distributed. With the exception of road and trail entrances, minimal growth was found further into the park on the Yew Lake, Black Mountain and Mount Strachan trails. In the report, continued monitoring, removal where appropriate, restoration of priority disturbed areas such as along streams and wetlands were all considered necessary. Planting of native shade-producing plants along riparian areas and prevention of seed spread by various methods were also recommended to discourage growth. In the future where feasible, soil disturbance must be avoided during maintenance and construction. Newly disturbed areas must be replanted with native species. The goal is to contain and control this species because at this time eradication is not thought possible. Controlling it will require serious commitment from all park stakeholders.

Outside of riparian areas, after proper stem cutting procedures, herbicide use can be a potential treatment method at the appropriate time of year. The Hollyburn area of the park including the Nordic ski area was not included in the 2015 survey.

Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica): Knotweed is considered one of the most serious invasive plants worldwide due to its ability to spread quickly and form dense thickets, crowding out native plants and reducing food sources for wildlife. It is able to establish itself from tiny root fragments and can push through asphalt, creating serious structural problems. In Summer 2010, Japanese knotweed was found on Cypress ski slopes; this infestation has been attributed to work done in preparation for the February 2010 Winter Olympics. In order to control knotweed and other invasives found in the Olympic venue areas, BC Parks obtained five years of secure funding for invasive plants inventory/monitoring work through an agreement with VANOC (Vancouver Olympics Organizing Committee). Knotweed found in 2010 was removed manually.

In 2011 Genoa Environmental undertook a comprehensive invasive plants inventory of Olympic venue areas. Thirteen plant species of concern, including Japanese knotweed, were noted with recommendations for treatment. Knotweed was treated chemically. Genoa Environmental reported: “the moist soils, streamsides and wet meadows found at Cypress Bowl are all highly susceptible to invasion [by Japanese knotweed].” In the 2015 survey by Diamond Head Consulting, five small areas of knotweed were found in the Alpine Ski area and were removed. Inventory/monitoring work will continue over the next few years as needed.

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum): Giant hogweed was discovered a few years ago in a ditch on Cypress Bowl Road just below the Hollyburn Ridge power lines. It was also found in the Nordic ski area across the road from the tubing area. The leaves and stems of this plant contain a highly toxic sap that can cause serious skin irritation, burns and even blindness.

Although BC Parks staff had worked to remove the plants from these areas, the colony increased greatly during the cool, wet spring of 2011, becoming the third largest infestation (over half a hectare) found in Metro Vancouver. In Summer 2011 an Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver team treated the plants with herbicide. A site visit in November 2011 showed that the treatment had been effective and that native grasses and shrubs had moved back into the treatment area. Follow-up treatment was undertaken in 2012 and 2013. However, continued monitoring will be required until the seed bank has been exhausted to ensure elimination of this dangerous invasive plant.

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius): Although small colonies of Scotch broom have been present for several years on some Cypress Bowl ski slopes and on Cypress Bowl Road, they appear to be increasing. A large infestation was discovered in Fall 2011 on Black Mountain’s First Sun and Panorama ski runs. Scotch broom crowds out native plants and changes the composition of the soil. It also burns easily and can be a fire hazard. Scotch broom removal was undertaken in 2012 and 2013 by BC Parks, Cypress Mountain Resorts staff, Cypress Ski Team and FCPP volunteers.

In 2015 an inventory by Diamond Head Consulting 48 occurrences of Scotch broom were identified on low elevation sections of alpine ski runs on Mount Strachan and Black Mountain. On-going work will be required to keep it under control.

Plant Lists - Invasive Plants found at Cypress Invasive Plants of Special Concern

The “Cypress Bowl Olympics Venue Site Inventory”, dated August 2011, prepared for BC Parks by Genoa Environmental, listed 13 invasive plant species of concern.

Quarry Lookout Picnic Site and Cypress Bowl Road

Areas around the picnic site (third switchback on Cypress Bowl Road) contain several invasive plants including Buddleja [Butterfly Bush] (Buddleja davidii), Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis), English Ivy (Hedera helix), Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria), Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus discolor), Periwinkle (Vinca minor), Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria aurantiaca), Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius), and Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis cambrica). Scotch broom grows in several locations along the road from the first switchback to Cypress Bowl. Buddleja grows along the road from the first switchback up to Quarry Lookout.

Some other non-native plant species have been identified at Cypress. Depending on the lists consulted, the following plants are considered invasive, noxious, or nuisance plants. Some are garden plants, out of place in a mountain park and capable of spreading. All should be removed, if possible, before they encroach further on the park’s natural environment. Please note that members of the public should not remove plants from the park without permission from BC Parks. Disturbed areas in Cypress Bowl and Hollyburn should be re-vegetated with native plants to the greatest degree possible and routinely monitored for invasive plants.

Other Non-Native Plants found at Cypress

How to identify Invasive Plants

• The Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) - list of BC’s most ‘unwanted’ Invasive Plants

• Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver (ISCMV)

• Invasive Alien Plant Program (IAPP) – Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations:

• B.C. Weed Control Act - Noxious Weeds in B.C. - Ministry of Agriculture .

• E-Flora BC: Includes a 6-page list of invasive, noxious and nuisance plants in BC.

How to Report Invasive Plants to Authorities

• The Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver: or call 604-880-8358.

• Use the IAPP Report-A-Weed tool. Be ready to report specific plant species and location

• Please also notify us, the Friends of Cypress

In August 2011 an ISCMV team chemically treated a very large Giant Hogweed infestation near the Nordic ski area parking lot. This site, which exceeded half a hectare, was the third largest known in Metro Vancouver. The following were also identified and treated: Blueweed [Viper’s Bugloss] (Echium vulgare), Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), and Yellow Hawkweed (Hieracium pratense). Funding for ISCMV’s work was provided though a BC Parks’ Community Legacy Program grant.

In summer 2012 ISCMV chemically treated a number of invasives. Work areas included Hollyburn, Cypress Bowl, Cypress Bowl Road, Parking Lot #5 and Cypress Mountain Works Yard. Not all listed were present in all sites.

In summer 2013, ISCMV continued chemical treatment of invasives in both Cypress Bowl and Hollyburn Ridge.

In 2015 an inventory, primarily for Reed Canary Grass, was carried out by Diamond Head Consulting. Scotch Broom and Japanese knotweed were also found.

Cypress Mountain staff and Cypress Ski Club/FCPP volunteers continue to remove Scotch broom in Cypress Bowl, along Cypress Bowl Road and at Quarry Lookout Picnic site. In Summer 2013 volunteers and BC Parks removed and dead-headed Buddleja (Butterfly bush) at Quarry Lookout. The occasional knotweed infestation is found on the ski runs and treated.

Friends of Cypress is in the process of creating a system for recording non-native plants found in the park, including location, date and photo ID. Please contact FCPP for more information and/or to offer assistance.