Invasives

Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus)

Glossy buckthorn is a tall shrub or small tree reaching 20-25 feet in height and 10 inches in diameter. Most often it grows in a large shrub growth form, having a few to several stems from the base. The shrub has spreading, loosely-branched crowns. The leaves are thin, glossy, and…

Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii)

Japanese black pine is a tree native to Japan and China. In the US, it was used ornamentally and can crowd out native species when it escapes garden environments. The trunks of Japanese black pine are often uniquely twisted, making them a popular choice for landscaping and arboretums. They can…

Kudzu (Pueraria montana ssp. lobata)

Kudzu, known as “the plant that ate the south” is a perennial, semi-woody vine that can reach 100 feet in length. The alternate, compound leaves consist of three broad leaflets, which are hairy on the undersides and 4-6 inches in length. The clusters of purple flowers, which have a grape-like…

Mile-a-minute Vine (Persicaria perfoliata)

*If found report here to Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). Mile-a-minute is an annual scrambling vine native to Asia that can grow to 25 feet in length. Small, curved barbs cover the stem, petioles, and leaf undersides. These sharply pointed barbs can rip clothing and skin. The plant’s bluish-green…

Narrow-leaf Bittercress (Cardamine impatiens)

Narrow-leaf bittercress is an herbaceous annual or biennial plant that can reach two feet in height. When narrow-leaf bittercress occurs as a biennial, the first year’s growth is a basal rosette of leaves. In the second year, it produces a flowering stem. The basal leaves of the plant are deeply…

Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)

Porcelain berry is a deciduous, woody vine that can closely resemble native grape species. It is also known as amur peppervine and is native to Japan and northern China. It was imported as an ornamental plant in the late 19th century. The vines can climb to 20 feet or more…

Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)

Water Chestnut is a rooted, aquatic plant with both floating and submersed leaves. The floating leaves form a rosette and are green, glossy and triangular with toothed edges. The submersed leaves are feathery, and are found whorled around the stem. Plant stems are cord-like and can attain lengths of up…