Such beautiful weeds: How our gardens run loose in the wild
Many gardeners like nasturtiums because they are colorful and can be grown easily from seed, but the plants can spread fast. Here, they take over the roadside along Pacific Coast Highway. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Mustard colors the landscape of Agoura Hills. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Pampas grass was introduced by a Santa Barbara nursery in 1848. When commercial production began in 1874, the plants were propagated by dividing them at the root, and only females were selected, for their superior plumes. To simplify the process, nurseries planted seeds and sold plants before they flowered, not knowing if the specimens were males or females. Today, the plant is seen as one of the worst invasives along the Central Coast. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
