HometownAnnapolis.com, Home And Garden - Be wary of... -
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Published on: 7/30/2005
Last Visited: 7/30/2005
Carol Holko, Maryland Department of Agriculture's chief of plant protection and weed management, says a good definition of an invasive plant is one that doesn't stay put.
She offers several examples to watch for in your garden.
A tall plant called purple loosestrife, with a cone-shaped purple spikey flower at the end of each stem, grows too well in wetlands areas.
The root system is so strong and it's a durable plant, but, says Ms. Holko, "you practically need dynamite to get it out."
Originally introduced in the 1800s as an medicinal plant and contained mostly in the north, it's made its way from Canada, New York and New England as far south as Maryland now.After, it was popularized as an ornamental, though now some areas are releasing a beetle that feeds on it to help get rid of it.
"Our wetlands are under siege enough.We don't need to add to the problem," says Ms. Holko.
While some states do regulate purple loosestrife, it's not illegal in Maryland, but Ms. Holko adds, "We're encouraging people to choose another purple plant."
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Seed can spread by birds and move into the natural areas," advises Ms. Holko, since it can take over as a groundcover in woods as well.
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"If you rip it out now before it sets seed, it will not come back next year," says Ms. Holko.
Pull out what you can see, but mark the area for next year, when you can apply a preemergent herbicide in early spring to prevent reinfestation.
A member of the peas and beans family, kudzu has "no virtue as far as I'm concerned," says Ms. Holko.
Kudzu has compound leaves with three leaflets and bears an individual fragrant purple flower and then a flattened, hairy seed pod.
An additional concern for farmers is that soybean rust, a fungus, can spread from the kudzu to soybeans, threatening the crops.
"Soybean rust is a devastating plant pathogen fungus that attacks soybeans and garden beans," says Ms. Holko, and it's moving up from further south.
Originally introduced in America in 1876, kudzu was encouraged as an ornamental and to reduce erosion in the 1920s.
Ms. Holko recommends a systemic herbicide to get rid of kudzu vine.
"You've got to really get the roots," she advises.
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Garlic mustard looks like a lovely green ground cover with its flat, heart-shaped leaves and white flowers.It is edible and smells like garlic when it's crushed, but get rid of it.
"It is difficult to eradicate and can take over whole areas," says Ms. Holko.
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It can cause second degree burns, blindness," says Ms. Holko.
Currently found in Harford, Baltimore and Garrett counties, it is illegal to move it across state lines.It spreads by seeds through wind and moving water and by humans, of course.
Ms. Holko says to call the Maryland Cooperative Extenstion for help with identification and the Department of Agriculture for help in getting it removed.
Japanese honeysuckle, which has fragrant white flowers that fade to yellow, grows faster than the more common honeysuckle, and smothers shrubs and small trees.Though it's not sold in nurseries anymore, it may still be around.
Although not a vine, Ms. Holko mentions the Bradford pear because so many are used in landscaping.However, they are known to split during storms which can be dangerous to cars and people.
They are beautiful with their white spring flowers, but the easy splitting has turned into an unanticipated problem that means it's best to choose another flowering ornamental such as doogwood, crabapple or cherry.
"Going with native plants is a noble thing but I'd hate to rule out all exotic plants because they're beautiful if kept in control," says Ms. Holko.
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