common Invasive plants
Black Swallow Wort
Black Swallow Wort kills monarch butterflies. The vine produces seed pods that eventually disperse through the air making it nearly impossible to eradicate once established. The sap of this plant is an extreme eye irritant.
Garlic Mustard
Garlic Mustard outcompetes the plants that birds and butterflies need. It negatively impacts soil chemistry.. It can eventually destroy forests because new saplings can not take root. It is a major issue on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see a video detailing removal instructions.
Japanese knotweed
This plant spreads by rhizomes as well as by seeds that travel through the air. Even a tiny amount of the plant can regenerate thus disposal must be done extremely carefully. Japanese Knotweed is extremely difficult to eradicate, but there is a new organic method that is showing promise; please click the link below for more.
Glossy Buckthorn
This shrub can grow into a small 'tree.' It destroys wildlife habitat and spreads primarily via birds who eat the berries. It is considered a major threat in Massachusetts. The best method is to cut the shrub low to the ground and wrap with a 'buckthorn' baggie. Click the link below for more.
Oriental Bittersweet
This vine, also called Asiatic Bittersweet, spreads quickly and can overwhelm and strangle native shrubs and trees. It can be hand pulled, but extreme caution should be used as even small fragments of the roots can re-growth. All plants, roots and runners should be pulled and thrown away in a plastic bag.
Purple Loosestrife
This plant is very beautiful but takes a terrible toll on our wetlands, killing all native plants and degrading wetland habitat. It provides no benefit to wildlife but outcompetes the plants that birds and water fowl need to survive.