The intent of the NC Native Plant Society Invasive Exotic Plant list is to rank exotic (alien, foreign, introduced, and non-indigenous) plants based on their invasive characteristics, to educate the public and resource managers, and to encourage early detection of invasive exotic species so that a rapid response can be implemented when needed. Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to the nature of Massachusetts because they out-compete, displace, or kill native species. It spreads quickly. They thrive against all the odds and are difficult to eradicate. Unless, of course, you plan on eating it.Verdict: Enjoy it in your next salad. But it’s not necessarily the number one choice for your garden.What it looks like: It’s a shrub that can grow as tall as 16 feet and has pretty lilac-like blooms.Why it might be suggested to you: As a low-maintenance, easy to grow ornamental that readily attracts butterflies.Problems: Seeds easily and has an impact on soil nutrient composition. 3. You’d be surprised how many common plants are trouble masquerading as something beneficial. If you have it on your property, keep a close eye on this species and prune ruthlessly.Introduced to North America and Australia as a fast-growing ornamental.What it looks like: An evergreen vine with pretty purple flowers.Why nurseries recommend it: Periwinkle is a rapid growing, low maintenance ground cover option.Problems: Not only is this invasive species capable of quickly forming a dense ground cover that suppresses everything beneath it, but periwinkle also doesn’t need much to survive, and it spreads rapidly.Verdict: Pick a different ground cover like glory vine.A Japanese plant introduced initially as an ornamental vine, kudzu is now considered an incredibly problematic weed.What it looks like: A vine with purple flowers and showy leaves.Why nurseries recommend it: For fast-growing shade and privacy, as a ground cover, or for its edible blossoms.Problems: The king of invasive plants, kudzu spreads exceptionally quickly and chokes out other plants in its way. Your answer will be used to improve our content. The more feedback you give us, the better our pages can be.Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. She is a volunteer for her community's Incredible Edible project. Preferably a native species.This plant is native to, you guessed it, Japan. Native to China, it was brought to the United States in the 1840s.What it looks like: When flowering, the tree displays beautiful pinkish purple blooms.Why nurseries recommend it: It’s a fast-growing ornamental for the yard.Problems: This invasive species outgrows other plants and trees incredibly quickly and overshadows native species, to say nothing of the seeds that germinate readily and travel far distances.Verdict: Skip this tree and choose another ornamental variety. The Forest Service National Strategic Framework for Invasive Species Management responds to a 2010 USDA Office of Inspector General audit of Forest Service invasive programs by providing a consistent, agency-wide approach to the prevention, detection, and control of invasive insects, pathogens, plants, wildlife, and fish.
I almost planted these until I was warned against doing so by a friend.What it looks like: Vibrant colored flowers (blue, white, purple, or pink) atop a bunch of stems.Why it might be suggested to you: You’re likely to find these little invaders in wildflower seed packets. You’re at the garden store, and an employee suggests the “perfect” plant to fill a space and feed your family. It doesn't have to be a weed, and invasive plants are by no means always ugly specimens. It also competes with native species.Verdict: There are plenty of other butterfly-friendly perennials and plants you can grow in the garden.Do your research. Invasive species, any nonnative species that significantly modifies or disrupts the ecosystems it colonizes. Sources include botanical gardens, horticulturists, conservationists, and government agencies. INTRODUCTION.
Once introduced to bodies of water these species proliferate, disrupting the food chain and damaging native fish populations. Why worry about invasive species?