Springfield Township, Michigan Sheet #5 Homeowner’s Series

Going Native

Plants to Avoid—Invasive Exotic

Many of the we use in and wildlife habitat, restrict Step 1. Use Native spreads through wetlands landscaping today did not recreational activity and re- Species this way. originate from this country. duce agricultural yields. If you want to make sure the · Is the exotic plant a They were introduced either A good example of an plants you are using don’t wildlife food plant? If yes, deliberately for their beauty exotic invasive plant is Pur- end up taking over the adja- then wildlife will spread the or food value, or uninten- ple Loosestrife. It is an her- cent woods or wetland, just around, and it is not a tionally in seed, soil or bal- baceous plant that lives in use native plant species. good choice. Autumn olive last water. Most of these wetlands, shorelines and Although some natives are was originally planted for “exotic” plants stay where roadside ditches and has a aggressive and will colonize wildlife. they are planted and do not pretty purple spike that your garden quickly, at invade natural areas. How- · Is the exotic plant a rap- blooms in mid-summer. some point natural controls idly ever, some exotics have be- Dense come invasive. And be- spreading stands of ground- cause no natural controls purple exist here, they take over cover? If loosestrife so, don’t and threaten native plant have colo- communities, degrade fish plant it nized many next to wetlands, naturalized replacing areas. An The “Do No Harm” native food Philosophy example of and cover this is a When deciding which plants plants that woodland to add to your garden, hold wildlife floor cov- fast to the “Do No Harm” species ered with philosophy. This idea says depend on. English that whatever type of plant According Ivy or you choose, native or non- will keep the plant in check to the U.S. EPA, wetlands Myrtle. native, make sure that infested with purple loose- if it moves into the wild. plant will stay where it’s · Is the exotic plant low strife lose as much as 50% put, and will not overtake of their original plant popu- maintenance, cold-hardy, your adjoining woodland or lations. This limits the vari- Step 2. Ask Yourself tolerant of extreme water wetland. Most native spe- ety of food and cover avail- These Questions conditions, shade tolerant cies have natural forces at able to birds and other wild- The Maryland Native Plant and pest-free? We generally work to check their spread. life, causing them to move Society evaluates exotic think of these as positive Non-natives, being out of or disappear from a region plants for a garden this way: traits in landscape plants! their natural range, don’t. altogether. But it also means this exotic Therefore, our choice of · Does the exotic plant has no natural controls in So how do you deter- species becomes the naturalize or self-sow? If Springfield Township and mine if a plant is invasive? “natural force” that keeps the plant spreads its should not be used. Crown Follow these three easy the non-natives in check. far by wind or water, don’t vetch is a good example of steps: plant it. Purple loosestrife this type of exotic.

Continued on Page 2 Page 2 Going Native Homeowner’s Series

Step 2. Ask Yourself These Questions (Cont.) · Does the exotic plant have the ability to kill or suppress growth of surrounding plants by shading them out, chemically poisoning them, or out-competing them for food and wa- ter? If so, you don’t want this plant in your garden! The shade and roots of Norway ma- ples make it very difficult for any other plant (including grass) to grow beneath it. Plants with the above characteristics are not only problems for natural areas, but are problems for gardeners who have to work hard to control them in their yards.

Step 3. Don’t Use Shrubs and Vines: and These Plants Groundcovers: Porcelainberry Morrow Honeysuckle The following is a list of (Ampelopsis brevipenduncu- (Lonicera morrowi) Garlic Mustard some of the non-native lata) (Alliaria officinalis) plants known to create prob- Tartarian Honeysuckle Japanese barberry (Lonicera tatarica) lems in Southeast Michigan Spotted Knapweed ( thunbergii) (Centaurea maculosa) and which you should not Common Buckthorn use in your landscape. The Common barberry (Rhamnus cathartica) Crown Vetch () (Coronilla varia) number of problem plants Glossy Buckthorn continues to grow, so be Butterfly Bush (Rhamnus frangula) Foxglove sure to use the guidelines (Budlia davidii) (Digitalis purpurea) above in making selections Multiflora Rose for non-natives. Oriental Bittersweet (Rosa multiflora) Japanese Knotweed ( orbiculatus) (Fallopia japonica ) Japanese Spiraea Cotoneaster (Spiraea japonica) Dame’s Rocket Trees: (Cononeaster microphyllus) (Hesperis matronalis) Japanese Yew Norway Maple (Cotoneaster pannosus) (Taxus cuspidata) Purple Loosestrife (Acer platanoides) (Lythrum salicaria) (Cotoneaster lacteus) Guelder Rose Amur Maple (Viburnum opulus var. Pachysandra (Acer ginnala) Autumn Olive (Eleagnus umbellata) opulus) (Pachysandra terminalis) Tree of Heaven Myrtle, or Periwinkle (Ailanthus altissima) Russian Olive (Eleagnus angustifolia) Grasses and Grass- (Vinca minor) European Alder Like Plants: (Alnus glutinosa) Burningbush () Chinese Silver Grass Goldenraintree (Miscanthus sinensis) (Koelruteria paniculata) Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) Giant Reed Amur Cork Tree (Phragmites communis) (Phellodendron amurense) English Ivy (Hedra helix) Reed Canary Grass White Poplar (Phalaris arundinacea) (Populus alba) Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) Black Locust (Robinia pseudocacia) Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Siberian Elm Canada Geese are native, but can some- (Ulmus pumila) Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) times seem invasive!