Non-Native Species

This is also called Introduced Species. These are species that have often been introduced by human activity to geographic areas which are outside of the species normal range. They are not usually invasive or detrimental to the native species.

They can be categorised as either Archaeophytes (pre-1500) or Neophytes (post-1500), of which there are an estimated 10 species of grass of the former and 50 species of the latter category, for the British Isles (Cope, T. & Gray, A. (2009) ‘Grasses of the British Isles', B.S.B.I. Handbook No.13, p.25).

Most garden and ornamental plants are neophytes, having originated in other countries and being brought back for propagation and subsequent commercial gain.