Space Invaders
There are many invasive plants plaguing open space in Guilford. Burning bush (Euonymus alatus), for example, is an exotic ornamental shrub that landscapers and gardeners choose for its stunning red fall color and ensuing delicate red berries. Look into a natural area near an established shrub and you can usually find a carpet of seedlings creeping outward from the host shrub.
Invasive plants are spread many ways and they thrive where soil has been disturbed. The arrival of these intruders upsets the balance of natural areas by crowding out native plants. This imbalance leads to the loss of native plant species and the nourishment, diversity, and habitat they provide. The land trust tries to remove colonies of invasives when possible, but the volunteer hours required are immense.
Among the worst invasives, in addition to burning bush, are Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), a rounded shrub with thorns, red fruit, and red to purple fall color; autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), a tall shrub with pale green leaves often confused with another invasive, Russian olive, (Elaeagnus angustifolia); garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), an herbaceous biennial with white flowers in spring; and Oriental bittersweet (Celasrus orbiculatus), a tree-climbing vine covered with fruits that is often used in wreaths. Some of these invasives, such as autumn olive, were planted by highway departments in many states because they were thought to be beneficial to wildlife, were fast growing and prevented soil erosion. We now understand that an introduced plant can be terrible for the environment even if it does feed the birds.
Though more invasive plants are outlawed in Connecticut every year, many remain in the marketplace because they are as popular with landscapers as they are unpopular with ecologists. There are two ways that homeowners and landowners can help. First, make careful choices at the garden center or with your landscaper. Below are some excellent alternatives to invasives:
- Alternatives for burning bush include American cranberrybush viburnum, highbush blueberry, redvein enkianthus, Fothergilla and red chokeberry.
- Alternatives for Japanese barberry include Weigela, slender deutzia, common ninebark and shrub roses.
- Alternatives for autumn olive include sweet-fern,
- bayberry, shining sumac, blackhaw viburnum and serviceberry.
- Alternatives for Oriental bittersweet include trumpet honeysuckle, Dutchman’s pipe and Virginia creeper.
The second way to help is by rolling up your sleeves and removing infestations on your land. The timing and method used to remove an invasive are critical to its eradication.
To check what works best and to learn more on the subject, visit the websites of the Invasive Plant Working Group and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (Natural Resources page).
—Sarah Williams