Penn State Extension has released updated guides to the invasive plants of Pennsylvania — these are excellent free info for landowners struggling with non-native plants taking over their properties.
A synopsis of the threats posed by these invasive plants, from the Invasive Plant Sheet Series announcement:
The term “invasive” is used to describe a plant which grows rapidly, spreads aggressively, and […] degrade native environments by causing a decline in native plant species diversity. They degrade wildlife habitats for native insects, birds, and other wildlife and threaten rare species. In addition, invasive plants have been shown to inhibit forest regeneration success, and slow or halt natural succession. Once well established, invasive plants require large amounts of time, labor, and money to control or eradicate.
Invasive Plants of Pennsylvania
- tree-of-heaven
- Callery pear
- common and glossy buckthorn
- Japanese barberry
- multiflora rose
- shrub honeysuckles
- autumn olive
- privet
- burning bush
- Oriental bittersweet
- Japanese knotweed
- mile-a-minute vine
- Japanese stiltgrass
- garlic mustard
Once Pennsylvania landowners learn how to ID these invasive plants, they can effectively “implement control measures to help prevent further spread and habitat degradation,” hopes David Jackson, Penn State Forest Resources Educator, and co-author on many of the species sheets.
Direct links to the species most problematic in the Cook Forest State Park area are in the bullet list above – or find an links to all the invasive plant species fact sheets via the button above.
Even MORE information, including the most effective methods of control, are indexed at the Penn State Extension Invasive & Competing Plants page.