Thirteen more species that pose a threat to the state’s ecosystems have been added to the Virginia Invasive Plant Species List.
The additions include Italian arum, nandina, and orange-eye butterfly-bush.
Invasive plants are non-native species that cause harm or have the potential to cause harm to natural resources, economic activity or humans. Some have been introduced intentionally into a region where they did not evolve; others, accidentally.
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.
The list, which has no regulatory authority, is for educational purposes and is updated regularly. For the full list, go to: https://tinyurl.com/zjtcnwzz
Factors considered during assessment of potential additions to the list 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.
There are three ranks of invasiveness: high, medium, or low.
Invasive plants cause problems because they proliferate and displace native plant species, reduce wildlife habitat, and alter natural processes.
The following plants were added to the list of Virginia Invasive Plant Species: in the highly-invasive category, Chinese tallow-tree, floating primrose-willow, Italian arum, ravenna-grass, trifoliate orange, and two-horned trapa.
In the medium level invasive category: curled pondweed, fountain grass, incised fumewort, leatherleaf mahonia, sweet autumn clematis.
In the low-level invasive category: nandina and orange-eye butterfly-bush.
The state’s Invasive Species Working Group, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2009, is coordinating efforts to address invasive species and is updating its management plan.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation provides a free, online Virginia Native Plant Finder tool to search for native species to plant instead of invasives.
To view the plant finder visit https://tinyurl.com/54swe8wj
