Would you pinch off a piece of a plant in a public place?

[Primalclaws1974]

I suppose it would depend where the plant was, and who owned it. If you didn't harm the plant in a local park, I would not see the problem. If it was in someone's home in a pot, or in their yard or garden, yes it would be theft. You could actually be fined if you did this in a state or national park.

 

[SamClemensMT]

Only if I were five years old or younger. This isn't a nice thing to do to a plant, even in a private place. I'm assuming that this plant would be growing in a public park, or perhaps it's on someones's property. No, that's not a nice thing to do.

 

[ThatKidWithTheFace]

I do this more often than I should! At parks and office buildings, usually. I've never really gave it much thought before, though.

 

[Cereus]

I see no reason for pinching plants in public spaces because there's programs out there that allow you to get free plants from public parks. Depending on where you live you could actually inquire the city hall/town hall about the park plants. Certain parks here give away plants and bulbs after the season is done so that the workers can put in new ones. Generally there's a small announcement, ect on the city/town page for the days when free plants/bulbs are given away. Then there's also city/state beautification programs that give away plants for free to those who participate in the programs.

 

[bluzkluz09]

I would ask permission first. Many times people pass by home and help themselves to the plants nearby my fence. When I notice I feel hurt and wonder why can't they just ask. I don't mind sharing and I would give away a cutting freely if asked. I'm the one taking care the plant and to have someone just come and help themselves makes me feel like the person feels entitled to the benefits of my work.

 

[Micheleteresa]

I would not do it without asking. I have had flowers and plants taken from my garden. I have no front property, just a small area to plant from the bottom of my front porch on all sides of the porch about a foot in width, the rest is the public sidewalk. the porch steps lead right to the sidewalk so I suppose people see the flower garden as part of the public sidewalk but it was pretty upsetting when my orange tulips were taken because they were planted in memory of a child who passed from cancer.

 

[Mika]

I would consider it stealing. It technically is stealing. Even if it is a plant, you're taking something without permission.
If it was in a forest or a public park I wouldn't worry about taking a clipping. If it was in someone's yard, I wouldn't touch it without permission. I find it pretty rude when people go ruffling up other people's plants. They're working hard to take care of it. I'd be pretty angry if someone had the audacity to take a piece of my plant without my permission. I wouldn't mind if they asked though. In fact, I'd be more than happy that my plant caught their eye. Every year I have to smack a few hands for people taking the roses off my bush. If they were to take clippings I'd be furious.

 

[muddyfingers]

That irresistible feeling of cutting out a plant from a public place and take it home and make it grow as your own - that is totally not alien to me! But, we must not forget about the fact that it is public property. As for me, I would not do it without asking for permission to the authorized person.

 

[misskrystal1982]

I think it would really depend on where the plant is. For example, I wouldn't go in someones yard and just cut. But if I was in the park or someplace like that, a public place, I probably would and not worry too much. Especially if it is a big hearty plant that looks like it wouldn't harm it.

 

[Beverly]

I wouldn't hesitate to take a pinch, cutting, or seeds if the plant was growing in an abandoned field somewhere and i knew this would not harm the plant. There are so many different scenarios for this. I think i would ask myself if i feel comfortable taking a pinch and then follow what my feelings tell me in the circumstance. There was a beautiful, enormous single red tropical hibiscus growing in the planted area of a sidewalk. I would walk past that hibiscus (not available in nurseries) always thinking i would like to take a cutting. Finally, i stopped at the house closest to the hibiscus (with some snippers in a bag, just in case). I told them how much i admired their hibiscus and asked if i might take a small cutting. Soon, there was a young woman at the door, a toddler, and the husband and the whole process turned into a little party. "Of course you can take as much as you like". The husband ran to get some cutters, the four of us were all on the sidewalk, they were so happy to share their plant with me and were choosing the choicest of cuttings..."no take another one just in case". I offered to pay them for the cuttings but they would not hear of it. It was such a lovely experience, even the baby was happy. They would not have been happy to see me taking a cutting if i had not asked first.

 

[Sublime440]

If you're going to pinch it in public, at least wait until you and the plant are alone to give each other some privacy and minimize the awkwardness of the moment. I don't like being pinched in public in front of strangers.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

yes, but, but only if the plant is huge, and in a selected unobvious area.

 

[BlueLotus]

Are we talking public like a zoo or a public park? Thought a zoo is open to the public, it's privately owned and the flowers were bought and arranged by the zoo owners. But any public place, like beside the road or parks are fair game because they are paid for by the public. As long as the plant you're collecting isn't endangered, there shouldn't be a problem with taking some seeds to help propagate. I also feel that taking a small trimming is usually less than what the landscapers and gardeners do when they take care of the public plants. Those clippings always end up as mulch. I have to admit that I was walking down the street once and saw an open paper bag of lawn clippings and plucked a couple clippings from the tree and tried to propagate. They would have lived to if my sister hadn't decided to drop the thermostat down to fifty because she was hot. I don't consider that stealing because it was in the street waiting to be picked up by the garage men.

 

[marlingardener]

When we lived in town we had an extensive garden that attracted visitors (hordes of visitors!). Some asked for cuttings or seed, but no one took anything without asking, except two women. They knocked on my door, asked if they could visit the gardens, and I went out with them in case they had any questions. One kept asking about this and that, and I noticed that she managed to keep my back to my potting shed, where I had about 60 rose cuttings rooted. I finally turned around and saw her companion putting 4" pots of little roses in her very large handbag. I made her put them back, escorted them off our property, and told them to never come back!
No, I wouldn't take cuttings, not even from public property. Seeds from roadside plants, yes I would take a few, but never strip an area.

 

[Insekto]

I've done it before and now I feel sad about myself doing it, for real. I had afriend who used to tell me stuff like "don't do that, plants feel andcry as well" and I didn't even pay any attention to her, but now I've realized it's bad.