1. Challenges of Woody Invasive Species in the Barrington Area
ChicagoRTI.org
ChicagoRTI.org

2. Urban Trees and Forests of the Chicago Region
Reminder – what we know and what got us started
Nowak et al., 2013

3. Why is buckthorn a concern?
28% of all of our trees is buckthorn
2% of all of our trees is amur honeysuckle
Reminder – what we know and what got us started

4. Buckthorn
Brought to the U.S. in the 1880’s as a ornamental plant. Rhamnus cathartica (European buckthorn) and Frangula alnus (Glossy buckthorn) are two species of exotic invasive tree.
ChicagoRTI.org

5. Amur honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii (bush honeysuckle) is an exotic invasive tree. It can grow to about 17 ft. in height. It was bought to the U.S. in the 1750s as an ornamental plant.
ChicagoRTI.org

6. enhance our urban forest
Talk about job security!
Both species of buckthorn and amur honeysuckle are identified as noxious weeds in the state of Illinois
Rhamnus cathartica is 28.2% of all tree species in the 7 county Chicago region
Lake County 42%
Cook County 32%
DuPage County 25.4%
McHenry County 35.7%
Will County 12.9%
Kane County 15.4%
Kendall County 4.2%
Lake County Forest Preserve District spends $2.5 million annually to control buckthorn
To preserve,
protect and
enhance our urban forest
resulting improved
quality of life.
ChicagoRTI.org

7. Why is buckthorn a concern?

8. What percentage of Barrington’s canopy is buckthorn or honeysuckle?
Source: phytoimages.siu.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

9. What percentage of Barrington’s canopy is buckthorn or honeysuckle?
Source: phytoimages.siu.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

10. What percentage of Barrington’s canopy is buckthorn or honeysuckle?
Buckthorn in the Barrington area is probably around 35%
Source: phytoimages.siu.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

11. enhance our urban forest
Why CRTI?
Regional Goals for Buckthorn Eradication
Millions of dollars are spent annually on buckthorn control and management.
Damage to Illinois landscapes from buckthorn costs millions of dollars every year.
To preserve,
protect and
enhance our urban forest
resulting improved
quality of life.
ChicagoRTI.org

12. What does buckthorn look like?
Both species have sub-opposite leaves
Oval, slightly serrate
1.5” – 3” in length
Rhamnus cathartica (European buckthorn)
Typically found in drier sites
Frangula alnus (Glossy buckthorn)
Typically found in wetter sites
ChicagoRTI.org

13. enhance our urban forest
What does it look like?
Source: flickriver.com
To preserve,
protect and
enhance our urban forest
resulting improved
quality of life.
Trees produce a small thorn like structure and create thickets.
Source: U.S. Forest Service
ChicagoRTI.org

14. enhance our urban forest
What is the big deal?
Both species are prolific seed producers
Seeds are a diuretic
To preserve,
protect and
enhance our urban forest
resulting improved
quality of life.
Source: cipwg.uconn.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

15. enhance our urban forest
What is the big deal?
Both species leaf out before anything else and keep their leaves until after everything else has lost their leaves.
They become dominant in the landscape and modify the composition and function of the ecosystem (Williamston et al )
To preserve,
protect and
enhance our urban forest
resulting improved
quality of life.
ChicagoRTI.org

16. Seeds can stay in the soil for several years so follow-up is required.
Not once and done
Seeds can stay in the soil for several years so follow-up is required.
ChicagoRTI.org

17. Why are you and your property important?
hey think that
it is good for the
birds.
Your landscape may be feeding buckthorn and honeysuckle into important natural areas and other properties!
Source: Jeff RaflikPull it
Source: Jeff Raflikit
Source: Conservation Corps
ChicagoRTI.org

18. Source: phytoimages.siu.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

19. What can we do about it? Great winter work! ChicagoRTI.org
Source: phytoimages.siu.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

20. Source: phytoimages.siu.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

21. Chili Cook Off and Buckthorn Festival!
Come clear buckthorn and taste some of the most delicious chili in town!
Award the Best Chili and crown this year’s King and Queen of the Buckthorn!
Source: phytoimages.siu.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

22. Integrated Pest Management!
Why CRTI?
Bring in help!
Integrated Pest Management!
Source: phytoimages.siu.edu
ChicagoRTI.org

23. Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Why CRTI?
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
To preserve,
protect and
enhance our urban forest to ensure its longevity
resulting improved
quality of life.
The Chicago region’s forest provides
$51.2 billion in benefits.
Our trees provide our quality of life!
ChicagoRTI.org

24. enhance our urban forest
Why CRTI?
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Website: ChicagoRTI.org
Woody Invasive Species Replacement Guide Using Native Species:
Questions: Lydia Scott, Director
To preserve,
protect and
enhance our urban forest
resulting improved
quality of life.
ChicagoRTI.org