Thursday, March 7, 2013

The Top 5 Plants We Do Not want to See in the James River Watershed


by Amber Ellis, JRA watershed Restoration Associate/Volunteer Coordinator

Invasive plants have become one of the most serious threats to native species, natural communities, and ecosystem processes. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has a great list that breaks plants down by highly, moderately, and occasionally invasive. Here is a list of our Top 5 invasives that are often seen in our parks and around our homes. Help keep these “invaders” out of the James River 
watershed:
         English Ivy (Hedera helix)

         Japanese knotweed (Polygonum perfoliatum)

         Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)

     Phragmites (Phragmites australis)

         Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

March 3 through 8 is National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Want to celebrate, but not sure how? Participate in a local invasive removal event, go out your backdoor and see if there are some pesky invasive plants to remove, or go out and plant natives!

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