Eleven Intrusive Vegetation Species Threatening Pennsylvania Gardens (Recommendation of Twenty-Two Native Plants for Cultivation)
In the vibrant gardens of Pennsylvania, a variety of plants thrive, but not all are welcome. Some invasive species, such as the Burning bush (Euonymus alatus), Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), and others, have found their way into local gardens and should be removed if discovered on property.
These invasive plants, including Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), were introduced mainly in the 19th century as ornamental plants and for erosion control. Unfortunately, they disrupt native biodiversity and are difficult to eradicate due to their aggressive growth and spread.
However, there are native alternatives that can replace these problematic plants. For instance, the native shrub, winterberry (Ilex verticillata), can be chosen instead of Japanese barberry. The American barberry (B. canadensis) is another suitable option.
Butterfly bush produces long pinkish-purple flower spikes from May until August, but native sweet pepperbush offers white flower clusters. Cultivars with pink blooms can also be found, and mountain laurel is another great alternative.
Green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) is a native evergreen groundcover with bright yellow spring flowers, making it an excellent choice for those looking to maintain native species in their gardens.
Callery pear grows up to 40 feet tall and produces white flowers before the leaves emerge in spring. Flowering dogwood and fringetree are native alternatives. Chinese privet, growing six to 15 feet tall and wide, can be replaced with sweet bay magnolia and black chokeberry.
Common and bigleaf periwinkle are evergreen vines that form dense mats even in full shade and produce pale bluish-purple flowers. A quick guide to removing periwinkle from your yard is available.
Two other invasive plants to watch out for are the Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and English ivy (Hedera helix). The native sugar maple (A. saccharum) looks very similar to Norway maple, and Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) spreads to form thick mats on forest floors and meadow edges.
Lastly, Burning bush, with its scarlet to purplish-red fall foliage, opposite, elliptic leaves with finely toothed margins, and tiny yellow-green flowers, can be replaced with native strawberry bush and red chokeberry.
By choosing native plants and removing invasive species, we can help preserve and protect Pennsylvania's natural biodiversity.
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