- The Chinese hemp palm (Ticino palm) is considered an invasive species and may no longer be sold or imported into Switzerland as of September 1, 2024.
- Anyone who has palm trees in their garden must prevent them from spreading – for example by expensively removing the flowers, which leads many to dispose of them completely.
- According to Adrian Oncelli from the Ticino Forestry Office, combating the disease in the forests around Locarno and Lugano currently makes neither economic nor ecological sense.
For many, palm trees are an inseparable part of the romantic image of Ticino. They represent Mediterranean flair and holiday feeling. But the once popular ornamental plants are now considered an invasive species. They have been allowed since September 1, 2024 the Chinese hemp palmalso known as Ticino palm, and other invasive plants can no longer be sold, given away, rented or imported in Switzerland.
If you already have palm trees in your garden, you can keep them, but you must prevent them from spreading further. This is becoming increasingly expensive for many owners, as Tio.ch reports.
Caring for palm trees can be expensive
The palm trees are currently blooming. To prevent them from producing fruit and propagating through seeds, gardening companies remove the flowers in many gardens. “This is a preventative measure to prevent further spread,” says Adrian Oncelli, head of the Ticino Office for Forestry Planning, Silviculture and Forest Protection.
However, this care can be expensive. “If you have a lot of palm trees, you have to think about how much money you want to spend on maintaining them,” says Oncelli. Therefore, more and more owners are opting for the complete removal of the plants for economic reasons.
What do you think about the measures against the Ticino palm?
More invasive plants affected
The situation is particularly difficult in the forests around the lakes in the Locarno and Lugano districts. The palm trees have already spread over large areas there. According to Oncelli, complete control would currently make neither economic nor ecological sense. Removing all palm trees would significantly reduce forest cover and disrupt natural processes.
In addition to the Ticino palm also apply Cherry laurel, butterfly bush and bluebell tree as invasive alien plants. Cherry laurel also needs to be cut back regularly to prevent it from forming fruit and spreading.
“A real witness to climate change”
According to Oncelli, understanding among the population is growing. Several communities are now supporting the fight against invasive plants by offering free disposal services for removed plants. In addition, more and more communities are regulating the care of invasive species.
With the regulations in force since September 2024, the federal government wants to curb the spread of invasive plants and protect native ecosystems. The affected species displace native plants and alter natural habitats.
Boris Pezzatti from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL told SRF in 2024 that the palm tree was a “real witness to climate change”. In our latitudes, their seeds have only been able to germinate since the 1980s.
Jonas Bucher is a publisher and deputy co-head of the news desk at 20 Minutes. He has been working in the media industry for 25 years and has always remained loyal to 20 Minutes.
