Thirteen species have been added to the Virginia invasive plant species list due to the potential harm to natural resources, economic activity or humans.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has determined that the plants on the list, which now includes 103 species, threaten Virginia’s forests, marshes, wetlands and waterways.
“New invasive plant species are continuously arriving in Virginia, so it is important for landowners and land managers to stay aware of the threats, to prevent invasive species establishment and to be swift in recognizing and managing their spread,” said Virginia Natural Heritage Program Director Jason Bulluck. “Anyone who has ever found themselves battling an invasive species infestation knows ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’”
Factors considered include the invasive characteristics of the species such as how readily seeds are dispersed through the landscape, whether Virginia has suitable habitat and if the species threatens natural resources.
Invasive plants cause problems because they proliferate and displace native plant species, reduce wildlife habitat and alter natural processes.
“We think of plants as being rooted where you plant them. But many species have reproductive means by which to travel far from the parent plants: seeds “hitchhiking” on people and animals, seeds catching a ride on the wind, or plant parts floating on water to a new habitat,” said DCR Stewardship Biologist Kevin Heffernan.
“Species like tree-of-heaven, wavyleaf grass, two-horned trapa, and even butterfly-bush, can show up where you least expect to find them, places like local forest parks or natural area preserves,” said Heffernan.
If you have an invasive species in your yard of garden, DCR recommends you remove it.
To report a sighting of an invasive plant in Virginia, visit https://www.invasivespeciesva.org/report-sightings.
Additions to the Virginia Invasive Plant Species list
There are three ranks of invasiveness: high, medium or low.
Virginia Invasiveness Rank: High
- Chinese tallow-tree (Triadica sebifera)
- floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides var. glabrescens)
- Italian arum (Arum italicum)
- ravenna-grass (Tripidium ravennae)
- trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata)
- two-horned trapa (Trapa bispinosa var. iinumai)
Virginia Invasiveness Rank: Medium
- curled pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
- fountain grass (Cenchrus purpurascens)
- incised fumewort (Corydalis incisa)
- leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei)
- sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora)
Virginia Invasiveness Rank: Low
- nandina (Nandina domestica)
- orange-eye butterfly-bush (Buddleja davidii)
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Crystal Graham
