1. Invasive Plants

2. What are they? Come into an area and out-compete native plants
Usually do not have native predators (i.e. insects, grazing animals)
Create a “mono-culture”- only one type of plant in an area
Often introduced:
As ornamental garden plants, which “escape”
As “hitchikers” on ships or in cargo
For a purpose, with unintended results

3. What are they?
Often have different growth cycles than native plants (start earlier in the season)
Control methods can often lead to increased propagation (more plants!)

4. Purple Loosestrife Found in wet areas Crowds out native wetland plants
Marshes, pond/lake edges, riverbanks
Crowds out native wetland plants
Loss of habitat for native birds and insects
A single plant can produce over a million seeds in a season

5. Japanese Honeysuckle
Introduced as an ornamental and for erosion control
Vine that smothers low vegetation and chokes the growth of trees and shrubs
Can be controlled in small areas but spreads quickly

6. Eurasion Water Milfoil
Spread by aquarium dealers and fishermen and boats
Quickly forms an extensive root system and crowds out native aquatic plants & fish habitats
Low nutrient value
Clog water intake pipes
Create mosquito breeding areas

7. Russian Olive Shrub with fuzzy silvery leaves
Can resprout quickly after burning or cutting
Can fix nitrogen so can grow quickly
Reduce water in soil and are drought tolerant

8. Oriental Bittersweet Vine with orange berries (used to make wreaths)
Climbing vine that twines around native plants
Can choke them
Weight of vine can pull down trees