1. Kate O’Hanlon, Biologist DE State Parks Environmental Stewardship Program

2. 19372002 First Project: Brandywine Creek State Park Tulip Tree Woods Nature Preserve Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP)

3. Removal Techniques Foliar spray- Spray mist of chemical on leaves while actively growing Basal Bark- Spray a ring of oil-based chemical around woody stems or trunks while plant is actively growing Cut stump- Use pruners or saw to cut woody stem flat about 2-3’’ from ground, and coat stump with chemical Hack and squirt- Use a hatchet to cut downward angled notches around the diameter of a tree to create ‘pockets’ for the herbicide Hand pull- Pull entire root mass from the ground Mowing- Repeatedly mow plants during entire growing season

5. Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) Native to Asia Introduced to the US in 1830 Used as an ornamental plant, erosion control and wildlife habitat Common on roadsides and forest edges Aggressively outcompetes native plants Seeds spread by birds Controlled by 2% Garlon® 3A foliar treatment, 20% Garlon® 3A cut-stump treatment, or 33% Garlon® 4 basal bark treatment.

6. Autumn Olive Identification Deciduous shrub Leaves alternate, oval shaped and silvery beneath Fruits red with silver speckles Fragrant white to light yellow flowers in spring

7. Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana) Native to China Introduced to US in 1908 as an ornamental tree and a rootstock for commercial pears Found in disturbed woodlands, old fields and roadsides Forms dense thickets and crowds out native species Seeds easily spread by birds Best control methods are to hand pull seedlings, 2% Garlon® 3A foliar spray young trees, 33% Garlon® 4 basal bark or 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump treatment

8. Bradford Pear Identification Deciduous, round shaped tree Leaves alternate, glossy, finely serrated, heart to oval shaped; twigs thorny Snowy white, foul smelling flower clusters in spring Fruits are small, greenish brown balls

9. Burning Bush (Euonymus alata) Native to northeastern Asia Introduced to US in 1860s as an ornamental plant Found in open woods, floodplains and disturbed ground Forms dense thickets and outcompetes natives for light and resources Seeds can be spread by birds Young plants can be hand pulled Best methods for large plants are 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump or 2% Garlon® 3A foliar treatments

10. Burning Bush Identification Deciduous shrub Leaves opposite, finely serrated, elliptical shaped, turning vibrant red in autumn Green stems have four “corky” wings Reddish purple fruits develop in late summer, yielding bright red seeds

11. Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) Native to China and Korea Introduced to US in 1896 as an ornamental plant and for wildlife habitat Found in old fields, forest edges, and floodplains Aggressively outcompetes native species for light and resources Best control methods are hand pulling, 2% Garlon® 3A foliar treatments, 33% Garlon® 4 basal bark or 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump treatments

12. Bush Honeysuckle Identification Deciduous shrub Leaves opposite, oblong shaped, with a long, pointed tip Fragrant, white to yellow flowers in spring Bright red, fleshy fruits in pairs Stems hollow like a straw

13. Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) Native to Asia Introduced to US in 1875 as an ornamental plant Found in young forests and areas with partial sunlight Forms dense thickets and outcompetes natives Leaf litter changes soil chemistry Birds spread seeds Best control methods are hand pulling, controlled burns, and 2% Garlon® 3A foliar or 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump treatments

14. Japanese Barberry Identification Deciduous shrub Leaves oval to spatula shaped, smooth edged, grouped in clusters of 2-6 Single spine emerging from where leaf and branch join Six-petalled, yellow flowers in spring Oblong, bright red, dry fruits in late summer through winter Heartwood bright yellow

15. Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) Native to eastern Asia Introduced to US in 1860s as an ornamental plant for living fence and for erosion control Grows in old fields, roadsides and open woods Forms dense thickets that exclude natives Seeds remain viable for 20-30 years Can be controlled by regular cutting or 50% Glyphosate cut stump treatment Also suffers from a virus called rose rosette disease

16. Multiflora Rose Identification Thorny, perennial shrub that grows in arching canes Leaves are alternate and pinnately compound with 5-11 toothed, oval shaped leaflets Produces clusters of fragrant, 5 petaled, white to pink flowers in late spring Bright red rose hips develop in summer

17. Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) Native from southern Scandinavia to northern Iran Introduced to US in 1776 as an ornamental shade tree Found in deciduous forests and urban and suburban natural areas Casts heavy shade and prevents establishment of native seedlings Best control methods are hand pulling young plants, and 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump or 33% Garlon® 4 basal bark treatments of adult trees

18. Norway Maple Identification Deciduous, spreading shade tree with gray brown bark Leaves wide, dark green, opposite, 5 sharply pointed lobes; turn bright gold in autumn Winged seeds with broad V-shape Grows to 40-50’ tall Milky sap exudes from broken leaves or stems

19. Privet (Ligustrum spp.) Native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa Different species introduced to US from 1700s through 1950s as ornamental shrubs Found in wood edges, floodplains, old fields and forests Forms dense stands that outcompete native species Does not have insect predators because of leaf chemistry Birds spread seeds Best control methods are hand pulling young plants and 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump or 2% Garlon® 3A foliar treatments of adult plants

20. Privet Identification Deciduous shrub Leaves opposite, oval shaped, small, and glossy green Plumes of tiny white flowers in early summer Clusters of dark blue-black berries in autumn

21. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Native to China Introduced to US in 1700s as an ornamental plant Grows in disturbed areas, fields, roadsides, and forest edges and openings Creates dense thickets and outcompete natives Produce a toxin that suppresses growth of other plants Best control methods are 33% Garlon® 4 basal bark treatment or 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump treatment

22. Tree of Heaven Identification Rapid growing deciduous tree Smooth trunks with gray bark Large compound leaves with ~20 leaflets Small yellow-green flowers are produced at the ends of upper stems and lead to pinkish winged seeds Leaves and stems have strong “peanut butter”-like odor when crushed

23. Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) Native to eastern Asia and Japan Introduced in 1890 to improve breeding stock of commercial berries Prefers moist soils and sunlight growing in open woods, fields, and along waterways. Can form dense thickets and dominate areas Seed dispersal through wildlife Control through hand-pulling or a foliar treatment using a 2% Glyphosate

24. Wineberry Identification Name translates as blackberry with purple hairs Mature plant has long, upright, arching stems covered with small spines and red hairs (giving the a reddish color from a distance) Stems may grow to a length of 9’ Leaflets are heart shaped and serrated with purplish veins Flowers are small, greenish with white petals and reddish hairs Fruit is edible, bright red and raspberry like

26. English Ivy (Hedera helix) Native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa Brought to US in 1727 as an ornamental and medicinal plant Found in temperate to subtropical environments with enough water Blocks light and germination of native, adds weight to trees and encourages fungus growth and decay on host trees Berries mildly toxic Can be handpulled, or 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump treatment of large vines

27. English Ivy Identification Evergreen, woody vine Vine climbs with small aerial rootlets Leave alternate, dark and waxy; 3-lobed with heart shaped base Blackish fruits develop in late summer

28. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Native to Asia (Japan and Korea, specifically) Brought to US in 1880s as an ornamental plant, erosion control and wildlife habitat Crowds out natives as a ground cover and can girdle trees and shrubs as a vine Very shade tolerant and occurs in a variety of habitats 2% Garlon® 3A foliar treatment in winter with repeat treatments is best way to remove

29. Japanese Honeysuckle Identification Semi-evergreen, perennial, woody vine Opposite oblong to oval shaped leaves Fragrant, tubular, 5-petaled white to yellow flowers Small black fruits in fall Reproduces vegetatively and by seed

30. Mile-a-minute Weed (Persicaria perfoliata) Native to India and eastern Asia Brought to US in 1930s from contaminated ornamental stock Grows in disturbed areas, forest edges, roadsides, wetlands and open fields Grows over natives, blocking light and preventing photosynthesis Best controlled by ~2% Glyphosate foliar spray Hand pulling is possible early in the growing season while barbs are still soft A mile-a-minute specific weevil has been released in the area as a biocontrol method for the weed

31. Mile-a-minute Identification Herbaceous, annual vine Leaves alternate and triangular Reddish stems have downward facing barbs and circular cup- shaped leaves called ocrea Inconspicuous white flowers produce bright blue seeds in summer

32. Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) Native to eastern Asia Introduced to US in 1860s as an ornamental plant Grows over native vegetation, blocking sunlight and uprooting trees because of weight Grows in forest edges, woodlands, fields and hedgerows Tolerates shade better than native bittersweet Best control methods are hand pulling when vines are small, 20% Garlon® 3A cut stump treatment or 2% Garlon® 3A foliar spray

33. Oriental Bittersweet Identification Deciduous woody vine Young stems are dotted with gray lenticels, while large stems grow to ~4’’ in diameter Leaves alternate, glossy and round Small white flowers in late spring develop into bright yellow fruits in fall, which break open to reveal bright red seeds

34. Porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipredunculata) Native to Asia Introduced to US in late 1800s as an ornamental plant Found in moist stream, pond and thicket edges and areas with sun to partial shade Shades and outcompetes natives and increases sail area of trees, leading to wind damage Birds and small animals spread seeds Hand pulling before fruiting or 2% Garlon® 3A foliar spray are best control methods

35. Porcelainberry Identification Deciduous, woody vine; bark does not peel Climbs by tendrils Leaves alternate, 3-5 lobed, undersides shiny Flowers mid summer, producing bright colored berries in autumn Berries white, blue, green, yellow, purple and pastel shades

36. Sweet Autumn Virgin’s Bower (Clematis terniflora) Native to China and Japan Introduced as an ornamental for its fragrant flowers – botanists started finding it in natural areas in early 1950s Found along stream edges and in thickets and moist woods Forms ground cover and climbs over trees and shrubs blocking light to plants below Readily spreads via seeds Young vines may be pulled, a foliar or cut stump Garlon 3A application may be used for control

37. Sweet Autumn Virgin’s Bower Identification Perennial, semi-evergreen to deciduous, herbaceous to semi-woody vine Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, with 3 to 5 leaflets each 2” – 3” long Sweet smelling, 4 petaled white flowers at leaf axils and terminal ends of branches bloom August - September Seed heads bear long, thin, gray feathery styles

38. Wisteria (Wisteria spp.) Native to China and Japan Chinese was introduced to US in 1816 and Japanese in 1830 as ornamental plants Grows in moist forest and tolerates a variety of soils; found mainly around old home sites Strangles trees, forms dense thickets and increases weight of tree tops Best treatment is a combination of cutting vines back close to the ground and 2% Garlon® 3A foliar spray on new growth or repeated cutting until roots are starved

39. Wisteria Identification Deciduous, woody vine Leaves compound with 7-13 (Chinese) or 13-19 (Japanese) leaflets Clusters of showy, pea-like purple flowers in spring Long, fuzzy seed pods in late spring, early summer

41. Bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica) Native to Asia Used primarily as an ornamental species and for privacy fences Often found at old homesteads or spread from landscaping from adjacent properties or dumping Aggressively spread through underground stems and resprouting from cut stems Can form dense monocultures that difficult to remove once established Combination cutting in early summer with a fall application of 2% glyphosate with a repeat application as necessary *This is just one of several invasive bamboos*

42. Bamboo Identification Perennial evergreen woody grass Jointed stems can grow to ¾” in diameter and up to 16” high Lance shaped are 5” to 13” long

43. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Native to Europe Brought to US in the 1800s by settlers as a food source Common in disturbed habitats, river floodplains, forests, roadsides and trails and forest openings Aggressively outcompetes native plants Best control method is hand pulling, bagging and composting plants before seed is set 2% Garlon® 3A foliar treatment is also effective on rosettes in winter

44. Garlic Mustard Identification Biennial herb- first year low to the ground rosette, second year stalked with 4-petaled white flower clusters Leaves heart to triangular shaped and coarsely toothed Leaves smell like garlic when crushed Seeds produced in late May in small pods called siliques

45. Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) Native to Asia Brought to US in 1919, most likely as shipping material from China Can tolerate a variety of habitats and can form dense ground cover which impedes native plants Well adapted to low light Small areas can be hand pulled, but best control is a 0.5% Glyphosate foliar spray

46. Japanese Stiltgrass Identification Annual grass Pale green, thin, lance shaped leaves Thin silver stripe down center of leaf Delicate spikes of flowers develop late summer, with seeds soon to follow

47. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) Also known as Polygonum cuspidatum Native to Asia Brought to US in 1800s as an ornamental plant and for erosion control Inhabits floodplains, roadsides and waste places Rapidly colonizes and aggressively outcompetes natives and forms dense thickets Reproduces vegetativly and from seed Best control method is cutting stalks at base, and treating regrowth with 2-3% Garlon® 3A Can also be hand pulled, but all material must be removed because of the threat of regrowth

48. Japanese Knotweed Identification Herbaceous perennial with thick, jointed stalks that resemble bamboo Large “shovel” shaped leaves Height can reach 10 ft Produce spikes of small white flowers in late summer

49. Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) Native to Europe and western Asia Brought to US in 1867 as an ornamental Grows in floodplains, creek sides, occasionally upland sites Crowds out natives, dense underground tubers, early spring growth Best controlled by ~2% Glyphosate foliar spray with surfactant Small infestations can be carefully dug out

50. Lesser Celandine Identification Early Spring Ephemeral Leaves glossy and heart shaped Flower shiny, yellow, 8-12 petals Numerous tubers on root system

51. Phragmites (Phragmites australis) Phragmites australis is widely distributed ranging all over Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Austrailia Research has confirmed native North American halotypes and introduced European halotypes Scattered populations of native strains Found in wet areas such as marshes, pond edges, and drainage ditches (does tolerate brackish water) Clog waterways and tall stems and dense growth shade out native plants Controlled by 1 ½ - 3% Wetland approved Glyphosate + ½% non-ionic surfactant

52. Phragmites Identification Up to 15’ tall, perennial grass Stems hollow and persist long after end of growing season Leaves usually 1” to 1 ½” wide and rough to touch Flowers large and feathery, purple red changing to tawny-grayish when in seed

53. Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Native to Europe Introduced to the US as a garden perennial in the 1800s – 1814 in the Northeast was one of the first reports; still promoted today by some horticulturists Used as an ornamental plant, erosion control and wildlife habitat Optimum habitat includes marshes, stream margins, wet grasslands Prolific seeding and tolerance to a variety of water regimes and soils allow for its proliferation Reproduces mainly by seed, by can spread vegetatively Controlled by wetland approved Glyphosate foliar application in mid to late summer, biological control or a cut stump treatement with a Glyphosate

54. Purple Loosestrife Identification Erect, perennial herb Square, woody stem usually covered by downy hair Leaves opposite, non-serrated, lance shaped arranged in pairs around stem without stalks Flowers purple to magenta, 5-6 petals aggregated into several long spokes blooming from July to September

55. Sources Invasive Plants (2007) Kaufman, Sylvan Ramsey and Kaufman, Wallace www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov www.Wikipedia.org

56. Photo Credits www.biobrandeis.edu www.Biowed.uwlax.edu www.emmitsburg.net www.cas.vanderbilt.edu www.condor.wesleyan.edu www.conservationresoucesinc.org www.davesgarden.com www.delawarewildflowers.org www.dforeman.cs.binghamton.edu www.dicoverlife.org www.drakeate.net www.duke.edu www.esu.edu www.europe-aliens.org www.flickr.com www.forestryimages.org www.seabirdstudio.com www.sierrapotomac.org www.vt.edu www.wisteriaseed.com www.gerrystreenursery.com www.harc.edu www.ib.ns.ac.yu www.invasive.org www.k41.pbase.com www.kingcounty.gov www.knottybits.com www.lukeflory.com www.northwestweeds.nsw.gov www.nps.gov www.odla.nu www.onegreenworld.com www.oregonstate.edu www.outandin.files.wordpress.com www.purdue.edu www.ririvers.org www.Sciencenewsforkids.org www.shawnnature.org www.Utexas.edu www.serralongas.it www.main.nc.us