I speak all the time of the big natives to have in your garden to help the environment, to save you money (less water and fertilizer) and to attract fauna to your courtyard. I think I should also bring the bad actors to your attention – really invasive non -authorities – that I see wherever I go. When I go hiking in a local park, I am really upset when I find a profusion of English ivy and Japanese honeysuit climbing and killing our native trees or our autumn olive and the Bradford pear trees pushing our beautiful trees of cream , icing and oak.
My biggest vexations are English Ivy (Hedera Helix), Japanese honeysuckle (Loninera Japanica), L’Olive d’Automne (Elaeagnus Umbellate), Bradford Pear (Pyrus Calleryana), Chinese Argentée grass (Miscanthus Sinsis), Chinese fountain grass (Purcurascens Cenchrus), Euonymus winged (Euonymus Alatus), Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense), Creening Jenny (Lysimachia Nummularria), Grass (Cortaderia Selloana), Butterfly Bush (Buddleja Davidii) Minor).
There are many more invasive plants in the county of Sussex, but they are those of which most of you have heard or seen in nature, as well as volunteering in your own court. A more in -depth list where you can find the invasive and Delaware watch list can be found here: https://delawareinvasives.net/?page_id=68.
The reason why it is so important to get rid of and not add to the amount of invasive is that there are no natural adversaries (insects or diseases) to keep them under control, which makes them Have an advantage over our native flora. The propagation of invasives exhausts the foods of our native fauna and decreases their indigenous habitat and the biodiversity of native plants, and increases the loss of natural resources. They also modify the quality of the local food soil network and our water quality.
Our local flora and our local fauna have evolved together on eons to coexist together and provide what each needs each other, when their cycle is disturbed, insects, plants and animals become threatened and then extinguished. In addition, invasions like the butterfly bush attract butterflies but do not provide the nutrients that our local butterflies need. In addition, they are spending host plants which are so important for so many life cycles of insects.
Unfortunately, many invasives are always sold by garden centers and nurseries. I often wonder why we are waiting to put invasive plants on a list until they have become so destructive and widespread that they are extremely expensive to eliminate. As a buyer, you can help this system by asking for natives and refusing to buy invasive plants in your region!
I have a challenge for you – the next time you walk or lead to this note of the note in the number of areas invaded by English. In the spring, observe how abundant Bradford pears are in our natural areas. Are you walking in a state park? Note the number of Chinese silver herbs (Miscanthus sinensis) that you find. The results may surprise you.
I also challenge you to withdraw the invasives from your court, as I do. I have already seen an increase in the variety of birds and caterpillars in my garden, and you know that it makes me extremely happy.
Native plants to use instead of invasive
Instead of butterfly bushes:
• Ceanothus Americanus – New Jersey tea
• Cephalanthus Westernis – Buttonbush
• Clethra Alnifolia – Sweet Pepperbush
• EUTROCHIUM PURPUREM – JOE PYE
• Itea Virginica – Virginia Sweetpire
• Philadelphus lewisii – Mock Orange Wild
• Physocarpus opulifolius – Ninibark
• Sambucus canadensis – American elderberry
Instead of Euonymus:
• Baptisia Tinctoria -Small Yellow Wild Indigo
• Comptonia Peregrine – Sweet Fern
• Corymbosum Vaccinium – Highbush Blueberry
• Angustifolium vaccinium – Lowbush blueberge
• Viburnum Lentago – Nannyberry
• Viburnum Nudum – Possumhaw
In place of English Ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, Jenny and Vinca creeping vines:
• Aristolochia Tomentosa – Dutch pipe
• ASARUM CANADENSE – SAUVAGE Ginger
• Heuchera – Alumroot / Coralls
• Lonicera sempervirens – Coral Honeysuckle
• Packera aurea – Golden Ragfie
• Parthenossus quinquefolia – CreEper Virginia
• Polystichum acrostichoides – Christmas farm
• Linderria Benzoin – Spicebush
• Lonicera sempervirens – Coral Honeysuckle
• Benthamidia – Dogwood Trees
• Aronia – Stokeberries
• Cephalanthus Westernis – Buttonbush
• Corylus Americana – American Hazelnut
• Vironnums
• Clematis Viorna – Leather Flower Vine
• Prunus Virginiana – Chokecherry
Instead of the fall olive:
• EUONYMUS Americanus – Strawberry bush
• Myrica Cerifera – Southern Wax -Myrtle
• Spiraea Latifolia – Meadowsweet
• Viburnum acerifolium – Mapleleaf viburnum
Instead of Bradford Pear Tree:
• Amelanchier Laevis or Canadensis – Common Serviceberry
• Caroliniana – American Hornbeam / Ironwood
• CARCIS CANADENSIS – EASTERN REDBUD
• Chionanthus virginicus – White Fripting
• Malus Coronaria – Sweet Crabapple
• Prunus Americaa – Wild Plum
• Viburnum prunifolium – Black Haw Viburnum
Instead of Privet:
• Aronias
• Cornus – Cornwall shrubs
• Ilex – Winterberry
• Illicium – Anis
• Lindera Benzoin – Spice Bush
• Hollies – they come in all sizes
• Myrica Cerifera – Southern Wax -Myrtle
• Rhododendrons
• Vironnums
Instead of invasive grasses:
• Andropogon Gerardii – Big Bluestem
• Panicum virgatum – switch
• Schizachyrium scoparium – Little Bluestem
• Sorghastrum Nutans – and Indian grass