In the last two posts (here and here) TheGardenLady explained the problem with invasive plants and how they came to the United States respectively. In this post TheGardenLady will give a list of 10 of the invasive trees and shrubs in great parts of the US:
1. Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima – This might be the tree in the fiction, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”
2. Japanese Barbery, Berberis thunbergii – landscapers love to sell this and plant this in your yard- be warned.
3. Asiatic Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus – pretty in wreaths but don’t use it because when the berries spread, you are spreading this invasive.
4. Autumn Olive, Eleagnus umbellata – smells pretty, but what a nuisance.
5. Japanese knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum – brought in as an ornament for screening and soil erosion. Horrible.
6. Common Reed, Phragmites australis – This one may have come accidentally aboard a ship. It is now invasive in all but one state and is clogging up waterways.
7. Porcelain berry, Ampelopsis brevipedunculata – This plant is still sold by nurseries. Don’t buy it especially if you live in the eastern half of the US.
8. Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica, Tartarian Honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica and Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii – 3 types of honeysuckle have become invasive.
9. Kudzu Vine, Pueraria montana var. lobata – This vine was brought to this country as an ornamental plant and as a forage crop and became so invasive- it has covered have the country.
10. Norway Maple, Acer platanoides – This handsome tree was used for
landscaping. DON’T plant it. Nothing can grow under It.