Invasive PlantsInvasive Plants

What are they?What are they?

Come into an area and out-compete native Come into an area and out-compete native plantsplants

Usually do not have native predators (i.e. Usually do not have native predators (i.e. insects, grazing animals)insects, grazing animals)

Create a “mono-culture”- only one type of plant Create a “mono-culture”- only one type of plant in an areain an area

Often introduced:Often introduced: As ornamental garden plants, which “escape”As ornamental garden plants, which “escape” As “hitchikers” on ships or in cargoAs “hitchikers” on ships or in cargo For a purpose, with unintended resultsFor a purpose, with unintended results

What are they?What are they?

Often have different growth cycles than Often have different growth cycles than native plants (start earlier in the season)native plants (start earlier in the season)

Control methods can often lead to Control methods can often lead to increased propagation (more plants!)increased propagation (more plants!)

Purple LoosestrifePurple Loosestrife

Found in wet areasFound in wet areas Marshes, pond/lake Marshes, pond/lake

edges, riverbanksedges, riverbanks

Crowds out native Crowds out native wetland plantswetland plants Loss of habitat for native Loss of habitat for native

birds and insectsbirds and insects

A single plant can A single plant can produce over a million produce over a million seeds in a seasonseeds in a season

Japanese HoneysuckleJapanese Honeysuckle

Introduced as an Introduced as an ornamental and for ornamental and for erosion controlerosion control

Vine that smothers Vine that smothers low vegetation and low vegetation and chokes the growth of chokes the growth of trees and shrubstrees and shrubs

Can be controlled in Can be controlled in small areas but small areas but spreads quicklyspreads quickly

Eurasion Water MilfoilEurasion Water Milfoil

Spread by aquarium Spread by aquarium dealers and fishermen dealers and fishermen and boatsand boats

Quickly forms an Quickly forms an extensive root system extensive root system and crowds out native and crowds out native aquatic plants & fish aquatic plants & fish habitatshabitats

Low nutrient valueLow nutrient value Clog water intake pipesClog water intake pipes Create mosquito Create mosquito

breeding areasbreeding areas

Russian OliveRussian Olive

Shrub with fuzzy Shrub with fuzzy silvery leavessilvery leaves

Can resprout quickly Can resprout quickly after burning or after burning or cuttingcutting

Can fix nitrogen so Can fix nitrogen so can grow quicklycan grow quickly

Reduce water in soil Reduce water in soil and are drought and are drought toleranttolerant

Oriental BittersweetOriental Bittersweet

Vine with orange Vine with orange berries (used to berries (used to make wreaths)make wreaths)

Climbing vine that Climbing vine that twines around native twines around native plantsplants Can choke themCan choke them Weight of vine can Weight of vine can

pull down treespull down trees