Invasive Plants

What are they? Come into an area and out-compete native plants Usually do not have native predators (i.e. insects, grazing animals) Create a “mono-culture”- only one type of plant in an area Often introduced: As ornamental garden plants, which “escape” As “hitchikers” on ships or in cargo For a purpose, with unintended results

What are they? Often have different growth cycles than native plants (start earlier in the season) Control methods can often lead to increased propagation (more plants!)

Purple Loosestrife Found in wet areas Crowds out native wetland plants Marshes, pond/lake edges, riverbanks Crowds out native wetland plants Loss of habitat for native birds and insects A single plant can produce over a million seeds in a season

Japanese Honeysuckle Introduced as an ornamental and for erosion control Vine that smothers low vegetation and chokes the growth of trees and shrubs Can be controlled in small areas but spreads quickly

Eurasion Water Milfoil Spread by aquarium dealers and fishermen and boats Quickly forms an extensive root system and crowds out native aquatic plants & fish habitats Low nutrient value Clog water intake pipes Create mosquito breeding areas

Russian Olive Shrub with fuzzy silvery leaves Can resprout quickly after burning or cutting Can fix nitrogen so can grow quickly Reduce water in soil and are drought tolerant

Oriental Bittersweet Vine with orange berries (used to make wreaths) Climbing vine that twines around native plants Can choke them Weight of vine can pull down trees