The first flush of bright green that we see along roadsides and woodland edges is a welcome foretaste of lush growth ahead. But things are not always what they seem…
Which plants are leafing out now? The earliest to the party are often non-native,invasive plants, who are able to crowd out native woodland plants by their early and vigorous growth habits. (Amur honeysuckle, Chinese privet and Japanese barberry are a few of the most common offenders in our area.) Such plants were first cultivated in this country for their pest- and disease- resistant qualities. This may sound like good news for home gardeners, but those same qualities are bad news for the ecosystem.These plants aren’t recognized as food sources by pollinator larvae, and their seeds and fruits are often of dubious nutritional value for our birds and other wildlife (which spread them far and wide).
Native shrubs and plants will soon begin to blossom–a spring showcase of healthy native flora.Why not give them a little help and consider removing invasives from your landscape?
For more information and a list of invasive plants in Pennsylvania, visit:
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/…/InvasivePlantF…/Pages/default.aspx
Which plants are leafing out now? The earliest to the party are often non-native,invasive plants, who are able to crowd out native woodland plants by their early and vigorous growth habits. (Amur honeysuckle, Chinese privet and Japanese barberry are a few of the most common offenders in our area.) Such plants were first cultivated in this country for their pest- and disease- resistant qualities. This may sound like good news for home gardeners, but those same qualities are bad news for the ecosystem.These plants aren’t recognized as food sources by pollinator larvae, and their seeds and fruits are often of dubious nutritional value for our birds and other wildlife (which spread them far and wide).
Native shrubs and plants will soon begin to blossom–a spring showcase of healthy native flora.Why not give them a little help and consider removing invasives from your landscape?
For more information and a list of invasive plants in Pennsylvania, visit:
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/…/InvasivePlantF…/Pages/default.aspx
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