7 Surprising Facts About Invasive Plants :- Discover information about invasive species, such as kudzu and purple loosestrife, and why you should remove them from your yard.
7 Surprising Facts About Invasive Plants
What Makes a Plant Invasive?
There are two traits shared by invasive plants. These plants are nonnative to the ecosystem, which is the first reason. Secondly, they affect people, the environment, or the economy, or have the potential to harm them.
Invasive Plant Damage Is Costly
The first documented invasive freshwater plant to appear in Alaska is the aquatic invasive species Elodea. It spreads quickly and readily, choking out native plants with just a 2-inch snip of its stem to take root in a new area. Experts estimate that it might cost the Alaskan sockeye salmon business up to $159 million year due to the disruption it causes to native flora and the degradation it causes to aquatic habitats.
Don’t Leave Purple Loosestrife!
It’s common knowledge that invasive plants proliferate swiftly. Purple loosestrife is an invasive plant that looks attractive but can yield more than 2.7 million seeds per year. Although purple loosestrife is native to Europe and Asia, many gardeners in the US and Canada find it to be a headache. It displaces native species as it thrives in wetland habitats. 30 to 50 shoots can emerge from a root, forming a network of interconnected plants.
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Invasive Plants Are Difficult to Remove
Invasive in the Pacific Northwest, Himalayan blackberries can grow up to 500 canes per square yard, creating impenetrable thickets. It is extremely difficult to control and eliminate, especially when trying to pull it out by the roots, as it is with many native plants.
Russian Thistle Spread Across the Southwest
Russian thistle, also called tumbleweed, was introduced to the United States in 1873. It spread quickly by mistake. Currently, it has infected about 100 million acres, mostly in the American Southwest.
Some Invasive Plants Are Harmful to Humans
Although many invasive plants are harmful to the environment, enormous hogweed is also harmful to people. Its toxic sap, when exposed to sunlight, causes serious skin blisters, and its leaves can reach a diameter of five feet. In the unfortunate event that you come into touch with giant hogweed directly, wash the affected area of skin as quickly as possible with soap and water. After then, be sure to shield the afflicted region from the sun for a minimum of 48 hours.
Kudzu Vine Grows Extremely Fast
Kudzu vines can grow up to one foot every day in the summer and can reach lengths of more than 100 feet. Because of its widespread distribution in the southern United States, it is sometimes referred to as “the vine that ate the South.” Regretfully, it was purposefully planted there to slow down erosion once.
