The NER Project, “Regionally Native Alternatives To Invasive Plants” is challenging for Maine.  Currently, there is no legislation for terrestrial invasive plants in Maine.

 

Do we all really know the definition of an invasive plant?  I want to be certain garden club members don’t use the term to describe plants they feel spread rapidly in their home gardens.  The term invasive should only be used to describe a plant that is non-native and has the potential of invading and altering both natural and managed areas; a plant that outcompetes our native species.  As you can see from the definition, these plants can pose a real problem.  There are many native plants that can take the place of such a species and seveeral are listed here on the website.

 

The display board shows potentially invasive plants in yellow and gives suggestions for use of native plants shown in green.  If you did not get a chance to see the display at the June Convention at Sebasco Resort, you can see it at Fall Conference October 28 in Augusta.

 

Working from the left, the display shows Norway Maple (acer platanoides) and if you look across it shows that instead you should try planting Red Maple (acer rubrum).  Many people do not realize the difference between these two plants.  One easy way to distinguish acer platanoides is to pull a leaf with its petiole off the branch.  It will ooze a whitish liquid.

 

I will list the remainder of potentially invasive plants and suggested native plants as they appear on the display:  Japanese Barberry (berberis thunbergii) and as a native replacement, Winterberry (ilex verticillata);  Autumn Olive (elaeagnus umbellate) and native plant American Elder (sambucus canadensis);  Burning Bush (euonymus alatus) and native plant Highbush Blueberries (V.corymbosum); Asiatic Bittersweet (celastrus orbiculata) and native plant American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens); Buckthorn (rhamnus cathartica) and native plant Nannyberry viburnum (viburnum lentago; Japanese Knotwood (fallopian japonica) and native Snakeroot (cimicifuga racemosa); Multiflora rose (rosa multiflora) and native plant Choke Cherry (prunus virginiana); Purple Loosestrife (lythrum salicaria) and native plant Joe-pye weed (eupatorium dubium); Garlic Mustard (alliaria petiolata) and native Bloodroot (sanguinaria Canadensis;, Japanese Honeysuckle (lonicera japonica) and native Pagoda Dogwood (cornum alternifolia.)

 

Several of these native plants can be seen at the Eastern Maine Native Plant Arboretum in Bangor.  When Penobscot District hosts the State Convention next June, I will be giving a tour of the Arboretum, where I have worked taking weekly data for a Master Gardener Project for 5 years.

 

Of course there are many, many other potentially invasive plants.  For more information go to the New England Wildflower Society’s website at www.newfs.org or visit your local Cooperative Extension office and ask for publication #2500, Gardening to Conserve Maine’s Native Landscape, #2502, Native Plants and #2503, Invasive Plants.

 

Please contact me if you have any questions.   

Carol J. Smith, NER Project Coordinator for Maine

luvs2garden2@aol.com, 207-989-1083