Per the Wild Resources Conservation Program's Dangerous Invasions DVD (copyright 2007) there are about 100 highly invasive plants in PA.
Invasive plants have the ability to reproduce rapidly, spread over large areas, and lack such natural controls as herbivores and diseases to keep them in check. Help maintain our biodiversity of native plants and creatures by removing invasive plants from your property and replacing them with native plants.
Alternatives
Alternatives to invasive or potentially invasive exotic plants
New England Wild Flower Society by William Cullina. Text only.
Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
Click on any invasive plant in the list to view plant photo and detailed information. Scroll to bottom of plant info to view list of alternative native plants to grow. Be sure recommended native plant is appropriate for your site, i.e., moisture, light.
Publication by USFWS BayScapes Conservation Landscaping Program
Identification
Invasive Exotic Plants in PA List
PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR. Scroll down page to view list by scientific and common names and to click on links to Fact Sheets with excellent photos and Management & Control measures.
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
Joint project of The Bugwood Network, USDA Forest Service and USDA APHIS PPQ.The University of Georgia - Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Dept. of Entomology
In left column click on "Catalog of species", then choose specific common or scientific name to search for plant info. At plant info page, click on scientific name to obtain full text and photos; be sure to scroll down for all photos and text. Some plants are only searchable by the scientific name. Click on photos for closeup views. No alternatives given.
Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States: Identification and Control
Joint project of The Bugwood Network, USDA Forest Service and USDA APHIS PPQ. The University of Georgia - Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Dept. of Entomology Full text/photos.. Includes Aquatic Forbs, Ferns, Forbs, Grass/Grass Like, Shrubs, Trees, Vines, Publications, Project Information. Scroll down page to all links. Another means of searching similar info in Invasive Plant Atlas of New England source noted above. CD available at Union County Ext. office and The Public Libraries of Union County.
Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
Publication by USFWS BayScapes Conservation Landscaping Program
Click on any invasive plant in the list to view plant photo and detailed information. Scroll to bottom of plant info to view list of alternative native plants to grow.
Invasive Plants
Indepth info through various sites of the New England Wild Flower Society. For invasive plant photos click on their Photo Gallery. At the photo link click on any photo for an enlarged version of the photo as well as information.
Invasive Plants: a guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species. 2007 by Sylvan Ramsey Kaufman and W. Kaufman.
VA Tech Weed Identification Guide
Index of common names. Detailed photos of all weed stages. Informative text.
Also includes Grass Weed Identification Key with photos and text.
Control Measures
Scroll down this page to see info under Specific Invasive Plants.
Search engines for control measures:
Invasive Exotic Plants in PA List - PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR. Scroll down page to view list by scientific and common names. Link to Management & Control measures are in right hand column.
Biological Control:A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America - Cornell U. guide to biological controls of insect, disease, and weed pests.
Control of Invasive Non-Native Plants: A Guide for Gardeners and Homeowners in the Mid-Atlantic Region - MD Native Plant Society, 1999.
The Invasive Species Alien Handbook - MD Native Plant Society, useful summary for ID and removal of common invasive alien species; English Ivy, Garlic Mustard, Japanese Honeysuckle, Japanese Stillgrass, Multiflora Rose, Tree of Heaven, and Wineberry; sketches, photos, text.
National Invasive Species Info Center - USDA Current Invasive Species News.
Specific Invasive Plants (just a few)
Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata
First recorded in the U.S. around 1868 in Long Island, NY; thought to have been introduced by settlers for food and medicinal purposes.
Member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae.
Biennial plant meaning the first year it is a seedling with a basal rosette. The second year it flowers and sets seed.
Grows in a wide habitat range from moist to dry. May be aided by white-tailed deer since they prefer eating native wildflowers rather than garlic mustard. Able to tolerate low light areas.
A single plant may produce hundreds of seeds which may be viable for more than 5 yrs.
MI State U
Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum
Imported from Eurasia around 1917 as an ornamental plant.
Member of the parsley family, Apiacea, grows 8 - 14 ft.
It is a dangerous, poisonous plant. Do not touch it as it produces a toxic sap which when exposed to sunlight may cause burns on your skin.
If you find this plant on your property call the Dept of Ag's Giant Hogweed Hotline 877.464.9333 to handle control measures. Leave a daytime phone number to be contacted in a few days.
PA Dept. of Agriculture - link to PDF brochure, excellent photos and brief, informative text.
Cornell U.
DCNR
Japanese Knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum
Native to Japan, introduced into North America for ornamental use in the late 1800's. Extensively planted at strip mine reclamation sites in PA.
Member of the Buckwheat family, Polygonacea, may grow over 10 ft.
Extremely difficult to control because it aggressively spreads by stout rhizomes which may reach 65 ft. in length and readily regrows from vegetative pieces and seed.
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
PA Flora - Botany Department, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania; Scroll down list to Delaware River Invasive Plant Partnership then click that link. At next site click on Invasive Plant Fact Sheets link then click on Japanese Knotweed. Site under construction so all steps needed to view fact sheet.
Japanese Knotweed Alliance - Indepth info and detailed photos by CABI, a nonprofit international organization based in the United Kingdom.
Mile-a-minute vine, Polygonum perfoliatum
Probably established on east coast by unintentional introduction in 1930's in York County, PA.
Recurved barbs on reddish stems and underside of leaf blades.
Smothers plants and trees in meadows, forest edges, and wetlands. Limited photosynthesis in the smothered plants can eventually kill the plants.
DCNR
Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria
Brought here from Europe in the 1800's for ornamental and medicinal uses.
Quickly spreads in wetlands killing off native plant species.
DCNR
Tree of Heaven, Alianthus altisima
Introduced by a gardener in Philadelphia in 1784 and into CA by immigrants during the gold rush era.
Can produce 325,000 seeds per year which thrive in disturbed soils.
DCNR
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