Coral ardisia is an aggressive invasive with glossy, dark green leaves and clusters of bright red berries in the winter. Photo by Jody Walthall.
Let’s talk about a threat to our nation. The threat is silent, ongoing, happening in our own yards and parks, and threatens our wild and natural areas, both wetlands and uplands. The State of Florida spends around $45 million a year on invasive plant control. The federal government spends an estimated $120 billion dollars a year.
There is something each of us can do in our own yards to address this problem. Let’s look at four plants that occur commonly in our yards of North Florida and South Georgia – coral ardisia, nandina, Chinese privet, and Japanese ligustrum (glossy privet). Learn to recognize these plants and work to remove or control them. All four are listed as Category 1 (the worst) Invasive Plants by the Florida Invasive Species Council.
Coral ardisia has glossy, dark green leaves usually on a vertical stem two to four feet tall. Lower on the stem are clusters of bright red berries in the winter. It is an attractive plant and that is why nurseries sold it and people shared it with each other many years ago. Ardisia spreads from yards into other yards, and then into natural areas, parks, and forests. It grows densely, crowding out native plants on the forest floor.
To remove them, first prune off the berry stems being careful to not drop any on the ground. Place them in bags and into a trash receptacle. Do not try to compost them or put them on the roadside for pickup by the city. They have an extremely high germination rate and will sprout wherever they land. After removing berries, dig all plants with a shovel. Pulling usually results in broken roots remaining in the soil to resprout. Watch for tiny seedlings, especially under the larger plants, and pull these as well.
Nandina is an invasive plant that is very toxic to birds. Photo by Jody Walthall.
Nandina is an old landscape plant with lovely fern like leaves and showy red berries. A classic example of nandina invading a natural area is the wooded land on the south side of Centerville Road near the Betton Road intersection in Tallahassee, where hundreds of them are growing beneath the native tree canopy. In beautiful Thomas County, Georgia, dozens of cedar waxwing birds died after gorging on nandina berries. Cyanide in the berries caused hemorrhaging in their lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, and brain, a terrible way to die. The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine published the findings.
To remove nandina, follow the same procedure as with ardisia. Nandina roots, however, are very tough and difficult to dig. You will need an axe or mattock to cut the roots. If you do not have the strength to dig either nandina or ardisia, at least cut off the berries each year so they cannot spread further. Hiring a professional landscaper is also an option.
Chinese privet is an invasive shrub that can grow up to 25 feet in height. Photo by Jody Walthall.
Chinese privet is a common invasive shrub across North Florida. It has extended its range from N. Carolina to Kentucky, west to Texas, and south to Miami. It is even an alien invasive in Australia and Argentina. It can grow to 25 feet tall. White spring flowers have a strong fragrance, often described as malodorous. For removal, cutting large trunks and painting herbicides on the fresh cut may kill it, but roots may resprout. Though they may be large, plants are shallow rooted and can be dug using a mattock. Roots left in the ground may sprout. Monitor the area and keep digging for total removal.
Japanese ligustrum (Ligustrum lucidum), also known as glossy privet, is a fast-growing tree reaching 40 feet in height with a 35-foot crown spread. Like the Chinese privet, it has showy white malodorous spring blooms. Large clusters of purple/black berries ripen in fall and are popular with birds. The birds disperse the berries through droppings. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida (UF/IFAS) advises that this plant can be a nuisance, writing, “This plant should be treated with caution, may be recommended for planting, but managed to prevent escape.” Are we to ask the birds to please not eat the berries and spread them into our parks, forests, and yards? In my own yard this year alone, I have pulled up at least one thousand seedlings coming from a neighbor’s tree. This week I discovered another area in my yard where I counted 70 in one square yard!
Japanese ligustrum, also known as glossy privet, is a fast-growing tree that can easily be spread by birds. Photo by Jody Walthall.
As mentioned above, Japanese ligusturm can become a medium sized tree and may require a professional for removal. Homeowners can cut smaller ones and poison the stump with an herbicide with the active ingredient triclopyr, such as Brush-B-Gon. Use a small disposable brush to paint the outer half-inch circumference of the fresh cut stump. Here is a hint for identifying both Chinese privet and Japanese ligustrum – both have oppositely arranged leaves on their stems.
All four of these invasive species alter native plant communities causing ecological damage to natural ecosystems. They represent real threats to our nation’s wild areas, in addition to the nuisance they create in our own yards. Since they came from other parts of the planet, there are few natural insects or diseases in our country to control their spread. Without ongoing control and diligence on the part of homeowners, volunteers, and governmental agencies, the alien plants will eventually spread and crowd out our American native plants, upsetting our complex food webs, and disturbing the balance of nature.
I have started with these four recognizable invasive plants for homeowners to learn about. There are plenty of others lurking about our yards. If you have the physical ability to remove them, go for it. If not, hire a strong neighborhood teenager or pay for professionals. Let’s protect our native natural areas!
Some other invasive plant to remove include Chinese camphor tree, Chinese tallow tree, golden rain tree, Chinese elm, mimosa, cat’s claw vine, Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese climbing fern, air potato vine, skunk vine, and Chinese Wisteria.