13

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1 19

10

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18

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T o p 2 0 I n v a s i v e S p e c i e s

1. Chinese Privet, Ligustrum sinense 2. Nepalese Browntop, Microstegium vimineum 3. Autumn Olive, Elaeagnus umbellata 4. Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis & Japanese Wisteria, W. floribunda 5. Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin 6. Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica 7. Amur Honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii 8. Multiflora Rose, Rosa multiflora 9. Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata 10. Kudzu, Pueraria montana 11. Golden Bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea 12. Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus 13. English Ivy, Hedera helix 14. Tree-of-Heaven, Ailanthus altissima 15. Chinese Tallow, Sapium sebiferum 16. Chinese Princess Tree, Paulownia tomentosa 17. Japanese Knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum 18. Silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensis 19. Thorny Olive, Elaeagnus pungens 20. Nandina, Nandina domestica

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Georgia Plant Conservation A l l i a n c e d e f i n i t i o n s you can help n a t i ve Avoid disturbing natural areas, including clearing of native vegetation. A native species is one that occurs in a particular region, ecosystem or habitat Know your plants. Find out if plants you without direct or indirect human action. grow have invasive tendencies. Do not use invasive species in landscaping, n o n - n a t i ve restoration, or for erosion control; use (alien, exotic, foreign, introduced, plants known not to be invasive in your area. non-indigenous) A species that occurs artificially in locations Control invasive plants on your land by beyond its known historical removing or managing them to prevent natural range. A species spread. Management may include pruning should be considered away flowers, mowing or herbicide use to non-native if it is from prevent vegetative spread. a different region, even Discuss concerns about invasive plants with if from the same plant retailers. Ask them to refrain from sell- country or state. ing these species and instead offer native or Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis non-invasive alternatives. i n va s i ve species Volunteer to assist in invasive plant removal A species that, through rapid growth or projects, such as “privet pulls”. Notify land other characteristics, is capable of altering managers of invasive plant occurrences. natural ecosystems to the detriment of native species. Work with local government officials to encourage use of native plants in their land- “Invasiveness” is characterized by strong scapes. Provide lists of attractive, non-inva- vegetative growth, abundant seed sive, hardy, pest-resistant plants that are ben- production, high germination rate, long- eficial to wildlife. lived seeds and rapid maturation to sexually reproductive stage. Re s o u r c e s www.uga.edu/gpca/ we e d www.nps.gov/plants/alien A subjective word used to describe any www.se-eppc.org plant considered to be “out of place”. In http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/ other words, weeds can include native and www.invasive.org non-native plants, growing wherever some- www.gaeppc.org

one wishes they weren’t. Invasive species are Cover image: Japanese Honeysuckle, copyright Carol Nourse and Hugh Nourse. Interior collage images courtesy of The State Botanical Garden of Georgia often referred to as weeds of natural areas. and www.invasive.org except Kudzu & Japanese Honeysuckle, copyright Carol Nourse & Hugh Nourse. The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance Recommended Species Nat ive to the Southeastern U. S . Groundcovers Small Trees

Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense Southern Sugar Maple, Acer barbatum Goldenstar, Chrysogonum virginianum Downy Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea Alleghany Spurge, Pachysandra procumbens Ironwood, Carpinus caroliniana Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides Fringetree, Chionanthus virginicus Invasives displace native species, destroy habitat Asian Inva s i o n Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida and food for wildlife, alter hydrology and Moss Verbena, Verbena tenuisecta Loblolly Bay, Gordonia lasianthus nutrient flow, and compete for pollinators and Because the climate of the south- Carolina Silverbell, Halesia carolina seed dispersers that native plants depend on. eastern United States is similar to Vines Common Witchhazel, Hamamelis virginiana portions of China and Japan, we are Possumhaw, Ilex decidua particularly vulnerable to destructive Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata American Holly, Ilex opaca Free from the vast and complex array of natural Climbing Hydrangea, Decumaria barbara Sweet Bay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana controls present in their native lands, including invasive species from those regions. Trumpet Creeper, Campsis radicans Big-leaf Magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla herbivores, parasites, and diseases, exotic plants The floristic similarity between East Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens Narrow-leaf Crabapple, Malus angustifolia may experience rapid and Asia and the southeastern United Fall-blooming Jessamine, Gelsemium rankinii Ogeechee Lime, Nyssa ogeche States is well known, with Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens Devilwood, Osmanthus americanus unrestricted growth in new Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia American Hophornbeam, Ostrya virginiana environments. When this many shared genera and plant Dwarf Smilax, Smilax pumila Sourwood, Oxydendrum arboreum happens, native plants can families. Red Bay, Persea borbonia get crowded out, even to Shrubs Virginia Pine, Pinus virginiana Sassafras, Sassafras albidum the point of extinction. These Asian species, without natural pests, herbivores and Bottlebrush Buckeye, Aesculus parviflora Devil's Walkingstick, Aralia spinosa Large Trees Invasives cost billions of competition, can spread American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana dollars annually in damage unchecked at alarming rates, Sweetshrub, Calycanthus floridus Red Maple, Acer rubrum and control measures in the disrupting native plant Button Bush, Cephalanthus occidentalis Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum communities. Buckwheat Tree, Cliftonia monophylla River Birch, Betula nigra United States. The cost to Titi, Cyrilla racemiflora Sugarberry, Celtis laevigata our natural heritage is Strawberry Bush, Euonymus americanus American Beech, Fagus grandifolia immeasurable. Dwarf Fothergilla, Fothergilla gardenii Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua Leading Causes of Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia Tulip Poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera Not all exotics are invasive. Many introduced Plant Extinction Inkberry, Ilex glabra Black Gum, Nyssa sylvatica Star Anise, Illicium parviflorum White Pine, Pinus strobus plants are easily controlled and are beneficial Habitat destruction Virginia Sweetspire, Itea virginica Loblolly Pine, Pinus taeda ornamentals. Many of our important food Mountain Laurel, Kalmia latifolia Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis Invasive species and sources, such as corn and wheat, are exotic Coast Leucothoe, Leucothoe axillaris White Oak, Quercus alba diseases they carry plant species. Drooping Leucothoe, Leucothoe fontanesiana Scarlet Oak, Quercus coccinea Fetterbush, Lyonia lucida Southern Red Oak, Quercus falcata Over-collecting and Wax Myrtle, Myrica cerifera Laurel Oak, Quercus hemisphaerica Above: Silvergrass. Below: Invasions of English ivy, over-harvesting Fevertree, Pinckneya bracteata Willow Oak, Quercus phellos Japanese honeysuckle, Kudzu, Nepalese browntop Alabama Azalea, Rhododendron alabamense Chestnut Oak, Quercus prinus Flame Azalea, Rhododendron calendulaceum Northern Red Oak, Quercus rubra Pink Azalea, Rhododendron periclymenoides Live Oak, Quercus virginiana images courtesy of www.invasive.org unless otherwise noted Shining Sumac, Rhus copallina Pond Cypress, Taxodium ascendens Mountain Stewartia, Stewartia ovata Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum Storax, Styrax americana Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis Arrowwood Viburnum, Viburnum dentatum Carolina Hemlock, Tsuga caroliniana Blackhaw Viburnum, Viburnum prunifolium Rusty Virburnum, Viburnum rufidulum Spanish Bayonet, Yucca aloifolia