Beware of Invasive Plants

The Landscaping Subcommittee hosted Kate Pawlin (right) of the New England Wild Flower Society. It was a very informative meeting!

One of the handouts that Kate provided was on “Invasive Plants.”

What are invasive plants? According to the New England Wild Flower Society “these non-native plant species are “overachievers.” Once established in natural areas, they outcompete native species. Invasive plants cause profound environmental and economic damage and are a major threat to native habitats worldwide. Some invasive plants have escaped from our home gardens and public plantings into natural areas. Each state has different problematic plants. Listed below are the top two dozen offenders.”

Although experts have determined that these plants are invasive in most of New England, and harmful to the region’s native plant communities, the plants listed in bold are still widely available through nurseries, in catalogs and on the Internet.

Norway maple
Bishop’s weed
Garlic mustard
Japanese barberry
Oriental bittersweet
Swallow-warts
Autumn Olive
Burning Bush
Glossy buckthorn
Himalayan jewelweed
Yellow flag iris
Blunt-leaved privet
Shrub-like honeysuckles
Japanese honeysuckle
Purple loosestrife
Japanese stiltgrass
Water-milfoils
Common reed
Japanese knotweed
Mile-a-minute vine
Common buckthorn
Multiflora rose
Water chestnut

For a list of recommended alternatives and information about removing invasive plants, visit www.newenglandWILD.org