(Lonicera japonica) and porcelainberry (Ampelopsis bre- vipedunculata). And look out: some very foolish people have actually planted kudzu in southern New England.
The kings of the invasive shrubs are the various spe- cies of shrub honeysuckle; here on the coastal plain we struggle primarily with Lonicera morrowii and L. tartarica. Other "ornamental" plants that have invaded minimally managed habitats include Japanese and European bar- berry (Berberis thunbergii and B. vulgaris), winged euony- mus (Euonymus alatus), privet—especially border privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium), and European and glossy buck- thorn (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus). There is also an extensive list of invasive herbaceous and aquat- ic plants; see the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England at http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane.
Government agencies, such as Departments of Agriculture and the former Soil Conservation Service
introduced about 30% of our invasive plants. Some of the worst invasives include multiflora rose (Rosa multi- flora) and autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). Invasive trees include both Norway and sycamore maples (Acer platanoides and A. pseudoplatanus) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), which, while native in other parts of the United States, is decidedly invasive here.
We will never eradicate all of them. The good news, however, is the growing efforts at research, education, regulation, and management of invasive species—and a growing interest in and use of native plants in urban and suburban landscapes and in conservation restora- tion of our degraded greenspaces.
—Michael Talbot, Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist, Landscape Designer, Consulting Arborist, Restoration Ecologist, Educator; Environmental Landscape Consultants, LLC, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
A "field" of young scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) takes over after a September, 2007 wildfire in a Washington State oak woodland. Before the fire, there were only scattered large individuals; 19 months after the fire, thousands of young plants are ready to flower and set seed. Re-sprouting from roots was rare. Photo by David M. Braun
24 City Trees
