Invasives

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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…

European Rusty Willow and Gray Willow (Salix atrocinerea (L.) Gaertn.) and Gray Willow (S.cinerea (L.) Gaertn.)

European rusty willow is a tall shrub or small tree that grows up to 50 feet tall; it has smooth gray-green bark with a waxy texture and raised ridges in the wood. Gray willow is a multi-stemmed shrub that may grow up to 20 feet tall. The two willows are…

Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

Japanese stiltgrass, native to East Asia, is an annual grass that can grow 5-6 feet in length, but the arching stems make it appear shorter. The name “stiltgrass” comes from the weak, prop-like roots which pull easily out of the ground. The 3” lance-shaped leaves are limy-green and taper at…

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…