Qualifications

Invasive Plants - Terrestrials

Terrestrial and aquatic invasive plants are a growing concern among conservation groups, government agencies, and private landowners as natural resources are being adversely affected by their presence.  Invasive plants spread easily, are prolific and aggressively opportunistic. They vigorously out-compete native vegetation resulting in reduced biodiversity and a loss of food and habitat for wildlife. Dense growth of these plants also severely impedes recreational use of natural areas.  

 

Allied Biological has over 30 years of experience in invasive plant control.  Our Invasive Plant Management Services include the following:  

  • Invasive Species Mapping
  • Project Planning
  • Permitting Services
  • Mechanical Cutting and Removal
  • Herbicide Application

Our herbicide applications expertise includes large-scale ground and boat applications, as well as small-scale, selective applications using methodologies such as backpack spraying, wicking, and cut stump and stem injection applications.   The site characteristics and the plant species generally determine the proper treatment method.  To contact our office to discuss your individual site specific needs, Click Here.

The following are a list of the 10 most common invasive plants we manage, as well 5 additional plants that are becoming increasingly problematic.

 

Most Common Invasive Plants

 

Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

 

 

Photo Attribution: Una Smith

 

  • Can fix nitrogen in roots enabling growth on bare mineral substrates
  • Matures in a few years
  • Spreads vegetatively

 

 

 

Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)

 

 

Photo Attribution: Albert

 

  • Grows and spreads quickly in moderate to high light
  • Grows well in most soils and edge habitats
  • Spreads by seeds and vegetatively
  • Grows 15 ft in a single season

 

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

 

 

 

  • Spreads by growing horizontal roots above or below the ground (rhizomes)
  • Chokes out native vegetation with persistent, rapid rhizome growth
  • Grows up to 6 ft in height

 

 

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

 

 

 

  • Hardy perennial degrades wetlands
  • Grows up to 10 ft in height
  • Spreads vegetatively and by seed
  • Produces 2-3 million seeds per year
  • 30-50 stems can arise from one single mature root

 

 

Mutiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

 

 

Photo Attribution: JoJan

 

  • Grows up to 15 ft in height
  • Tolerates wide range of soils, moisture and light
  • Grows as multi-stemmed shrub or climbing vine
  • Reproduces by seed and by forming new plants from tips of arching canes rooting anywhere there is ground contact
  • Produces 1 million seeds per year
  • Seeds remain viable for up to 20 years

 

Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)

 

 

 

  • Can grown 9-14 feet in height
  • Stems and roots can damage structures
  • Tolerates various soil conditions
  • Rhizomes can survive extreme cold
  • Rhizomes can extend 22 ft out from plant stalk and  9 ft deep
  • Resilient to cutting

 

Mile-a-minute  (Persicaria perfoliata)

 

 

  • Fruits and seed produced without assistance from pollinators
  • Grows rapidly smothering native plants

 

 

 

Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

 

 

  • Reproduces prolifically by seed
  • Expands vegetatively through root suckering

 

 

 

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

 

 

  • Grows to 20 ft in height
  • Grows in full or part sun and in poor soil

 

 

 

 

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

 

 

  • Stems capable of rooting when come  into contact with soil
  • Grows in various soil types
  • Can grow as a shrub, ground cover or climbing vine

 

 

Emerging Threats

 

Japanese Hops (Humulus japonicus)

 

 

  • Grows 2-8 ft in one season
  • Shallow rooted but can climb to 10+ feet
  • Forms dense mats, several feet thick which smother underlying plants
  • Vines twine around shrubs and trees causing them to break of fall over

 

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

 

 

 

 

Photo Attribution: William Rafti of the William Rafti Institute

 

 

  • Twining vines in excess of 30 ft in length
  • Reproduce vegetatively along runners at leaf  junction and by rhizomes

Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris  arundinacea)

 

 

  • Grows to 3-6 ft in height
  • Grows rapidly and quickly dominates moist soils areas: wetlands, ditches, etc

 

 

 

Chinese lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)

 

 

 

 

Photo Attribution: Dalgial

 

 

  • Grows 3-5.5 ft in height
  • Grows in a variety of habitats including severely eroded sterile soils
  • Develops extensive seed banks in soil
  • Mature seeds viable for up to 20 years

 

Japanese Stiltgrass  (Microstegium vimineum)

 

 

  • Grows in sun to deep shade
  • Grows 2-3 ft in height
  • Spreads rapidly in disturbed areas
  • Reproduces vegetatively and by seeds
  • Seed are viable for at least 3 years
  • 100-1000 seeds per plant