Norway Proposes Ban on Lilacs as Invasive Species

In Norway, the forthcoming lilac blossoming may soon be a memory only. The Norwegian Environment Agency wants to ban both the sale and planting of lilacs.

The flower is one of the nearly plants that the country wants to eradicate, due to being classified as an "alien species", reports Aftonbladet with reference to Norwegian Aftenposten.

Even in Sweden, the purple and white flowers are classified as an alien species. But botanist Mora Aronsson at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is not worried.

I can't see that we would do the same thing, he says to Aftonbladet.

Sweden has rules at the European level to adhere to, compared to Norway which is not an EU member.

So they can ban any species they want.