Preserving Land Since 1970
European buckthorn was brought to the US from Europe before the 1800s, as it was used for hedges, shelterbelt plantings, and wildlife habitat. The buckthorn is now found throughout southern Canada and the northeastern US, and it is still frequently sold in nurseries. It is a shrub with gray-brown bark and […] Read more »
Also known as bishop’s-weed and snow-on-the-mountain, goutweed is native to Europe and northern Asia. Goutweed has a tall thin stem with dark green to blue-green basal, toothed leaves and small, white five-petaled flowers that bloom in mid-summer. Capable of growing in dense patches, this weed displaces natives and is often […] Read more »
Although it is widely agreed that the species is invasive, there is some debate as to whether phragmites is native or exotic. Soil records indicate its presence in the United States as long as 3,000 years ago. However, some argue that an aggressive European strand was introduced to the US […] Read more »
Purple loosestrife was brought to the US from Europe in the early 1900s and has been spreading across the country ever since. It can now be found in at least 36 states, with this number likely growing in the future. Each plant can produce as many as 2 million seeds, […] Read more »
Originally seen in various regions of Asia, it was brought to America for ornamental purposes, but quickly gained support from the U.S. Soil Conservation Service as an erosion control method. Widespread throughout the eastern United States down to the Carolinas, it is a noted invasive species in the Northeast. This […] Read more »
Native to Japan, this plant came to North America in the 19th century through use as an ornamental plant. Japanese Knotweed is an upright shrub that can reach heights of 10 feet, with broad oval leaves 6 inches long and a couple inches wide. The flowers are very small, green-white […] Read more »
Also called Burning Bush, Winged Euonymus is native to areas across Asia and brought to North America as an ornamental plant. These shrubs are now found all along the east coast of the United States and west to Illinois. Burning Bush is a deciduous shrub, often 5-10 feet but can […] Read more »
Originally from East Asia, Autumn Olive was introduced into the US in 1830 to provide wildlife habitat and windbreaks and to serve ornamental purposes. This nitrogen-fixing deciduous shrub can be found in fields, open woodlands, and disturbed areas from Maine to West Virginia. It is a threat to native ecosystems […] Read more »
An herb originating in Europe, garlic mustard found its way to the United States in the late 1860’s, likely for food and medicinal uses. It is now seen sporadically across the United States. The plants do not flower until the second year they have been established, at which point they […] Read more »
Arriving in the United States in the 19th century, it quickly spread due to its use as hedging on private properties but it has made its way into the wild now. Deciduous shrubs that can be semi-evergreen, they will grow from 8-20 feet tall if unchecked (hence the desirability as […] Read more »
