Invasives…How did they get here?
Horticultural activity" is responsible for about 60% of invasive species introductions (arboretums, botanic gardens, gardeners).
Conservation activities (Soil Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture) introduced about 30% of invasive plants, mostly for screening, windbreak, and erosion control, but also to supply food and cover for wildlife.
Accidental introductions make up the remaining 10%. For example, purple loosestrife was first brought to the u.S. in the hold of a ship via ballast water, then later introduced for horticultural purposes).
Some species may be native to certain regions of North America where they are not invasive, but arrive in new regions through assisted range expansion or transportation to other parts of the country for ornamental purposes, where they can become invasive (black locust, for example).
List compliments of Liz Murray
Alternatives to Barberry
Dwarf Witch Alder - Fothergilla gardenia
New Jersey Tea - Ceanothus americanua
Virginia Sweetspire - Itea virginica
Summersweet - Clethra alnifolia
Common Winterberry - Ilex verticillata
Bayberry - Morella (Myrica) pensylvania
American Cranberry Bush - Viburnum trilobum
Highbush Blueberry - Vaccinium corymbosum
Chokeberry (Red) - Aronia arbutifolia
Alternatives to Winged Euonymous (Burning Bush)
Serviceberry - Amelanchier bartramii
Chokeberry(Red) - Aronia arbutifolia
Summersweet - Clethra alnifolia
Pagoda Dogwood - Cornus alterfolia
American Smoke Tree - Cotinus obovatus
Virginia Sweetspire - Itea virginica
Common Winterberry - Ilex verticillata
Spicebush - Lindera benzion
Highbush Blueberry - Vaccinium corymbosum
Witherod & Possum Haw - Viburnum nudum and prunifolium
Alternatives to Butterfly Bush
Bottlebrush - Aesculus parviflora
American Beautyberry - Callicarpa Americana
New Jersey Tea - Ceanothus americanua
Summersweet - Clethra alnifolia
Titi - Cyrila racemiflora
Wild Hydrangea - Hydrangea arborescens
Virginia Sweetspire - Itea virginica
Azalea - Rhododendron spp
Elderberry - Sambucus spp
Meadowsweet - Spirea spp
Snowberry - Symphoricarpos ssp
Viburnum - Virburnum spp
Alternatives to Russian and Autumn Olive
New Jersey Tea - Ceanothus americanua
Mountain Mahogany - Cercocarpus spp
Fringetree - Chionanthus virginicus
Silverberry - Eleagnus commutatus
Bayberry - Morella (Myrica) pensylvania
Wild Olive - Osmanthus americanus
Wild Plum - Prunus Americana
Beach Plum - Prunus maritime
Wildgoose Plum - Prunus monsoniana
Scub Oak - Quercus ilicifolia
Silverberry - Shepardia canadensis
American & Sycamore Leaf Snowbell - Styrax americanus and platanifolius
Possumhaw - Viburnum prunifolium
Alternatives to Privet
Florida Leucothoe - Agarista populifolia
Dahoon - Ilex cassine
Inkberry Holly - Ilex glabra
Yaupon - Ilex vomitoria
Anise - Illicium floridanum
Bayberry -Morella (Myrica) pensylvania
Wild Olive - Osmanthus americanus
Cherry Laurel - Prunus caroliniana
Carolina Rhododendron - Rhododendron minus vars.
Alternatives to Norway Maple
Chalk Maple, Bigleaf Maple, Red Maple - Acer spp.
Yellow Buckeye - Aesculus flava
Hercules Club - Aralia spinosa
Yellow Birch - Betula alleghaniensis
Sugarberry - Celtis laevigata
Yellowwood - Cladrastis kentuckea
Green Ash - Frazinus pensylvanica
Kentucky Coffee Tree - Gymnocladus dioicus
Sweet Gum - Liquidambar tulipifera
Tulip Poplar - Liridendron tulipifera
Swamp White Oak and Pin Oak - Quercus spp.
Alternatives to Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp)
Bottlebrush Buckeye - Aesculus parviflora
Painted Buckeye - Aesculus sylvatica
Serviceberry - Amelanchier bartramii
Southern Bush Honeysuckle - Diervilla sessilifolia
Leatherwood - Dirca palustris
Holly - Ilex spp.
Mountain Holly - Nemopanthus mucronatus
Viburnum - Viburnum spp.
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