OTTAWA – Just as Canadians start to head outside and enjoy the warm weather, many of them will once again notice the colourful flowers of the plastic bag tree.
Conservation efforts over the past 50 years have been a resounding success with Canadians and their municipalities embracing the non-native species.
“The arbour plasticus was once endangered, but thanks to Canadians’ complacency and sheer laziness, more and more plastic bag trees are flowering this season,” Reince Vaughn explained of the World Plasticlife Federation. “Each tree may hold a number of different coloured perennials from the white ‘Shoppers Drug Mart” to the vibrant yellow ‘No Frills.’”
Vaughn added that, unlike other trees plants, the plastic bag tree blossoms year round with its petroleum-based petals that flap in the wind from the cold winters to hot summers.
While lobbying efforts have been resoundingly successful by conservationists at the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, the tree remains threatened by cities that have cut off important food sources, like Montreal and Victoria.
“What gives me hope for the preservation of this species is that there are many Canadians out there who say ‘yes’ to double-bagging,” said Vaughn.
