This, Not That: Alternatives to Invasive Species in the Sourlands Invasive Woodland and Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) has American Holly (Ilex opaca) is also deer barb-covered branches and bright yellow roots. resistant. Its bright orange/red fruit is It is planted for its deer resistance. However, it consumed by various birds of the Sourland damages moist forests and its bright red berries region, like the northern flicker, mourning hold little nutritional value for wildlife. dove, northern cardinal, blue jay, white-throated sparrow, eastern towhee, and wild turkey Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus), also Northern Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium commonly called burning bush, is desired for corymbosum) has white flowers in the spring its bright scarlet color in the fall. It can grow and bright red/orange in the fall. Its up to ten feet tall and has opposite branching. blueberries are enjoyable for both humans and However, its berries provide little nutritional Sourland birds like the eastern bluebird, value for wildlife. cardinal, American robin, mourning dove, and wild turkey. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) is a very Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina) grows white or common invader of meadows and woodlands. light pink, five-petaled flowers. Its stems are It has small, five-petaled flowers. Its prickly and the dark green foliage turns distinguishing features when compared to reddish in the fall. other native roses are its seven leaflets, recurved thorns, and fringed leafstem base. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Linden (Viburnum dilatatum) is Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum used as an ornamental plant in landscaping, dentatum) has clusters of tiny white flowers but invades local forests. Its leaves are fuzzy, which mature into dark blue fruit. This fruit is its branching pattern is opposite, and it bears food for various Sourland bird species, like the clusters of tiny white flowers which mature northern cardinal, American robin, and wild into bright red fruit. turkey. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Siebold’s Viburnum (Viburnum sieboldii) is Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum used as an ornamental plant in landscaping, dentatum) has clusters of tiny white flowers but invades local forests and displaces native which mature into dark blue fruit. This fruit is . It grows clusters of tiny white flowers food for various Sourland bird species, like the and blackish fruit, and its strap-like leaves northern cardinal, American robin, and wild have an unpleasant odor when crushed. turkey. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium Rice-Cut Grass (Leersia oryzoides) is not as vimineum) is an annual grass that can cover easily uprooted as Japanese Stiltgrass and forest floors, where canopy is open and grows in small clumps and groups rather than there are few native shrubs. Its roots look like blanketing the ground. The grass has invisible, above-ground “stilts,” and are easily rooted. Its fine edges. inch long leaves have a silvery midvein. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) appears Broadleaf Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla) as low clusters of leaves initially, then begins has similar flowers but range in color from to send a 1-2 foot tall spike with tiny white white to pink. It can be distinguished by its flowers. This weed kills native soil fungi that two leaves with three broad leaflets each. help tree/wildflower seedlings and tree roots in nutrient uptake. Invasive Woodland Vines Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is a climbing vine with roundish, toothed has brighter fruits and more tapered leaves. Its leaves. Its color is red-brown when young and fruit grows only at the end of its stem, not warty-grey when mature. It has bright orange along it. While the fruits are poisonous to fruits in the autumn. humans, they are a food source for various Sourland birds. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Japanese Clematis (Clematis terniflora) Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana) looks invades woodlands, wood edges, and almost identical to Japanese Clematis, but has meadows. Its blooms are fragrant, white, and toothed leaves instead of untoothed like its four-petaled. Because of its cold-hardiness, it invasive look-alike. Its blooms are a food is used for landscaping. source for butterflies and bees. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a climbing vine with vanilla-scented flowers is a vine with scented, red-yellow flowers and and blackish fruit. Its leaves are opposite and bright red berries. Its flowers attract untoothed. It provides winter forage for deer hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, while its (an overpopulated species in the Sourlands), fruit attracts Sourland birds such as the purple and quickly colonizes fields, roadsides, forest finch, American goldfinch, and American edges, and fencerows. robin. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) and American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) has Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) are aromatic purple flowers and smooth seed pods. climbing vines with purple, pea-like flowers It is less aggressive and damaging to buildings and seeds in long, fuzzy pods. They can topple than its Asian counterparts. Its flowers attract mature trees and suffocate shrubs and butterflies and the plant can also be used for woodland flowers. deer resistance Meadow Invaders Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Chinese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) Big Bluestem Grass (Andropogon gerardii) is commonly planted in landscaping and grows three-prong flower spikes. While spreads to meadows quickly. Most varieties usually characterizing the plains of central bear a silver stripe down the blade. It can North America, it can thrive in moist New grow at least five feet with plume-like flowers. Jersey grasslands. It provides cover for Because of its extreme flammability, the risk songbirds and also attracts butterflies. The of wildfires in the area increase. plant can also be used for deer resistance. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana) is a popular Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) blooms ornamental tree that invades open areas in the white flowers. The twigs, leaves, and cherries foothills of the Sourland region. Its dropped by the tree can be allelopathic foul-smelling blooms appear in the spring and (beneficial to growth) to other garden plants. mature into small speckled fruits. Its cherries provide food for humans, other mammals, and Sourland birds like the woodpecker, sparrow, and the eastern bluebird. Riparian and Wetland Invaders Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) is grown for its Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) grows in showy yellow flowers, but invades streams, wetlands. Its leaves are extremely narrow and ditches, canals, and wetlands. It has long and grasslike. Its flowers are blue/purple and blade-like leaves. When invading, it can crowd attract native birds, especially the out other valuable aquatic plants and may also hummingbird. reduce fish and waterfowl habitats. All parts of this plant are toxic to animals. Invasive Species Native Look-Alike

Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is a forest cuspidatum) is widespread in wet areas, herb with white flowers high above alternating stream banks, and roadsides. It can grow up to leaves. It is used for medicinal purposes and is 10 feet tall and has heart-shaped clusters of said to possess anti-inflammatory effects. Its small white flowers. The dense growth of this flowers attract bumblebees and butterflies. plant crowds out native plants and cases flooding erosion along waterways.