Supporting data associated with an online survey of Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) vice-county recorders.

The aim of this research was to: 1) explore attitudes of botanists towards ornamentals; and 2) gather information on which ornamentals are considered invasive and - more importantly - of increasing concern (i.e. potentially invasive species) in each vice county in Britain and Ireland. This online survey was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading (reference number SBS 17-18 11) and hosted on Jisc Online Surveys.

Section A of the survey measured general attitudes towards ornamental plants in Britain and Ireland and Section B focused on ornamental plants in each individual vice county and recorders were asked to list the ‘top five’ invasive garden plants and the ‘top five’ of increasing concern.

The survey and the full analysed list of taxa reported by the vice-county recorders [n = 35] are included.

This forms supporting data for chapter 2 of PhD thesis: 'Ornamental plants: our future invaders? Engaging with gardeners to tackle the issue of invasive species'.