Japanese barberry. Why do people plant a shrub with vicious thorns and no pretty flowers to make it worth the pain? To add insult to injury, Japanese barberry is invasive in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Birds eat the berries, which are less nutritious than other sources, and disperse the seeds. Deer do not [...]
Purple loosestrife Aliens in old science fiction movies arrive in space ships, look frightening and threaten to take over the world. Well, aliens are real. But they look beautiful and you drive them home from the garden center in your own car. They do take over the world, however. National Invasive Species Awareness Week is [...]
Click HERE to listen to Lisa Caprioglio’s segment on invasive plants with NPR’s Michele Norris. People blessed with shady gardens often feel stumped about what to plant, so they turn to English ivy (Hedera helix). English ivy is inexpensive, fast-growing, and easy to care for. Unfortunately, it is also invasive. It quickly crowds out desirable [...]