Invasives
Amur Cork Tree (Phellodendron amurense)
Amur cork tree is a small to medium-sized tree growing 35 to 50 feet in height. It has prominently ridged bark, which is soft and corky to the touch. Just beneath the ridged outer bark, the tree has a bright yellow inner bark. Amur cork tree has compound leaves with…
Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Overview: Deciduous woody perennial plant which grows as a climbing, rambling vine. Size: Mature plants can attain stem widths of 10 inches in diameter and 60 feet in length. Leaves: Alternate, glossy, nearly as wide as they are long (round), with finely toothed margins. There are separate female (fruiting) and…
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Overview: Deciduous multistem shrub. The stems, buds and leaves have a dense covering of silvery to rusty scales. Size: Up to 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Leaves: Alternate, egg or lance-shaped, smooth margined, dull green or green/grey above and silvery underneath. Stem/Bark: Young twigs are silvery with brownish…
Black Swallowwort (Cynanchum louiseae syn: Cynanchum nigrum)
Black or Louis’ swallow-wort (previously Vincetoxicum nigrum and Cynanchum nigrum) is a perennial, twining herbaceous vine. The leaves are oval shaped with pointed tips, 3-4 in. long by 2-3 in. wide, and occur in pairs along the stem. The small five-petaled star shaped flowers are dark purple to almost black with white hairs, about…
Brazilian Waterweed (Egeria densa)
Brazilian waterweed, also known as Brazilian elodea, is a submerged aquatic perennial plant that infests streams, lakes, and ponds. The bright green stems are generally 1-2 feet in length, but can be as much as 20 feet. The plant’s leaves are arranged in whorls of 4 to 6 leaves; the…
Broad-leaved Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium L.)
Broad-leaved pepperweed, also called tall pepperweed, perennial peppergrass, tall whitetop, giant whiteweed, and ironweed is an herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 5 feet tall. Plants have many stiff, upright stems that grow from a woody crown of roots. Old stems persist through the winter with rosettes of leaves…
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Overview: Deciduous shrub, regularly found in landscaped gardens. It has vibrant red fall foliage and showy bark Size: 22 feet tall and 12 feet wide Leaves: Opposite and elliptical in shape with toothed margins, and turn a brilliant scarlet in the fall Stem/Bark: Corky ridges form along the green twigs,…
Bush Honeysuckle (Lonucera maackii, Lonicera morrowii, Lonicera tatarica, Lonicera x bella)
Overview: Deciduous shrubs Size: 6-15 ft tall Leaves: 1-2 ½ inch, egg-shaped leaves are opposite along the stem and short-stalked Stem/Bark: Older stems are often hollow, unlike the native bush honeysuckles which are solid. Flowers: Pairs of fragrant, tubular flowers less than an inch long are borne along the stem…
Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana Dcne.)
Overview: A deciduous, upright, and pyramidal tree that spreads aggressively and forms dense thickets. Young trees are typically slender and thorny. Size: 20-30’ tall and wide Leaves: Alternate glossy/waxy oblong, up to 3” long and 1 ½”- 3” wide, with small, round-toothed margins; long petioles make the leaves flutter in the…
Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
Common reed, or Phragmites, is a tall, perennial grass that can grow to over 15 feet in height. In North America, both native Phragmites (Phragmites australis ssp. americanus Saltonstall, P.M. Peterson & Soreng) and introduced subspecies are found. Introduced Phragmites forms dense stands which include both live stems and standing…