Rare Plants Stolen from Private Garden

Although interrupted by the owner, thieves still made off with two cycads, valued at US$3,500, from a private garden near Los Angeles. The plants have become a popular target for thieves because of their high value. Many species of cycads are endangered and have import restrictions, making them rare in cultivation and increasing their value.

Botanical gardens, nurseries and collectors are adding security to try to protect their collections. Some growers cannot afford increased security costs. The botanical garden at UCLA has stopped acquiring cycads after a theft. Other cycad growers are keeping a lower profile hoping to protect their plants from thieves.

Links:

• Thieves Targeting Gardens With Rare Plant by Ben Fox, Associated Press Writer, from the Forest Conservation Portal of Forests.org


• The Highly Coveted Cycad an earlier entry from the UBCBG Weblog

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 4:55 PM on March 4, 2005

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