Maryland's Wild Acres
Creating a Wild Backyard - Bad Plants Planted by Good People
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When you go to the nursery, you might have the best intentions of redesigning your landscape to attract wildlife. However, not all plants sold in nurseries and at stores are good for wildlife and the environment. When selecting plants for backyard wildlife habitat, native species are generally the best choices. Unfortunately, native species are not always readily available at most commercial nurseries. So, your best plan of action is to go to the store armed with knowledge to avoid purchasing problem plants. To begin, let’s define what is considered to be native, non-native and invasive.
Invasive species are problematic, and their introductions into natural systems can be intentional or unintentional. Invasive species can be animals, plants, fungi and even microbes. Billions of dollars are spent each year in the United States to control invasive species. It has been estimated that $45 million per year is spent on control of the invasive Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) on federal lands. That’s a lot of cash!
One way you can help with the battle against invasive plants is to not plant them in your yard. The following list contains species currently sold at nurseries that should be avoided. It should be noted that not all non-native plants are invasive, and there are plenty of non-native plants which can be used to enhance your backyard wildlife habitat. Check out pages found on the Wild Acres site here for more information on desirable species for wildlife.
Some of Maryland’s Problem Plants
|
Habit |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Aquatic |
Eurasian watermilfoil |
Myriophyllum spicatum |
|
Aquatic |
Flowering rush |
Butomus umbellatus |
|
Aquatic |
Parrot feather |
Myriophyllum aquaticum |
|
Aquatic |
Water chestnut |
Trapa natans |
|
Aquatic |
Water hyacinth |
Eichhornia crassipes |
|
Forbs |
Carpet bugleweed, Bugleweed, Ajuga |
Ajuga reptans |
|
Forbs |
Japanese knotweed |
Polygonum cuspidatum |
|
Forbs |
Japanese pachysandra, Pachysandra |
Pachysandra terminalis |
|
Forbs |
Loosestrife, Creeping Jenny, Moneywort |
Lysimachia nummularia |
|
Forbs |
Orange daylily |
Hemerocallis fulva |
|
Forbs |
Perilla, Beefsteak plant |
Perilla frutescens |
|
Forbs |
Yellow flag iris |
Iris pseudacorus |
|
Grass |
Cogongrass |
Imperata cylindrica |
|
Grass |
Common reed |
Phragmites australis |
|
Grass |
Japanese silver grass |
Miscanthus sinensis |
|
Grass |
Johnson grass |
Sorghum halepense |
|
Grass |
Pampas grass |
Cortaderia selloana |
|
Shrub |
Butterfly bush |
Buddleia davidii |
|
Shrub |
Chinese privet |
Ligustrum sinense |
|
Shrub |
Heavenly bamboo |
Nandina domestica |
|
Shrub |
Japanese barberry |
Berberis thunbergii |
|
Shrub |
Japanese holly |
Ilex crenata |
|
Shrub |
Japanese spiraea |
Spiraea japonica |
|
Shrub |
Leatherleaf mahonia |
Mahonia bealei |
|
Shrub |
Scotch broom |
Cytisus scoparius |
|
Shrub |
Wineberry |
Rubus phoenicolasius |
|
Shrub |
Winged euonymus |
Euonymus alatus |
|
Tree |
Amur corktree, Phellodendron |
Phellodendron amurense |
|
Tree |
Bradford pear |
Pyrus calleryana |
|
Tree |
Chinese tallow |
Triadica sebifera |
|
Tree |
Goldenrain tree |
Koelreuteria paniculata |
|
Tree |
Norway maple |
Acer platanoides |
|
Tree |
Sawtooth oak |
Quercus acutissima |
|
Vine |
Chinese wisteria |
Wisteria sinensis |
|
Vine |
Chinese yam |
Dioscorea oppositifolia |
|
Vine |
English ivy |
Hedera helix |
|
Vine |
Japanese wisteria |
Wisteria floribunda |
|
Vine |
Periwinkle |
Vinca minor |
|
Vine |
Vinca vine |
Vinca major |
|
Vine |
Winter creeper |
Euonymus fortunei |
It should be noted that this is not an exhaustive list, but these
are some of the more commonly planted problem plants. When in doubt,
research the plant you are interested in to see if it is invasive.
The Maryland
Invasive Species Council (MISC) also has good information on
invasive species in Maryland as well as well as the
National Invasive Species
Council.
For Additional Information, Contact:
Kerry Wixted
Wildlife and Heritage Service
580 Taylor Ave, E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401
kwixted@dnr.state.md.us
Phone: 410-260-8566
Fax: 410-260-8596
Acknowledgements:
We want to hear from you!
Letters, e-mail, photos, drawings. Let us know how successful you are as you create wildlife habitat on your property. Complete the online Habichat Reader's Survey.
Write to Me!
Kerry Wixted
Natural Resources Biologist II
Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service
MD Dept of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave., E-1
Annapolis MD 21401
phone: 410-260-8566
fax: 410-260-8596
e-mail: kwixted@dnr.state.md.us
