Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is a shade tolerant invasive shrub first introduced in Ohio around 1960. By producing abundant red fruits favored by birds, it spread rapidly across the eastern U.S. (Hutchinson & Vankat 1997; Ingold & Craycraft 1983). Amur honeysuckle occurs most often in disturbed forests, especially those with canopy openings, where it grows more quickly and produces leaves earlier than most native shrubs and spring wildflowers (Hutchinson & Vankat 1997). Visit the Radford Phenology Monitoring website for info about spring wildflowers and invasive species at Wildwood Park. At Wildwood Park, Amur honeysuckle occurred most often in Mixed-Mesophytic Forests. (Photo by Jay Sturner)
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Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is one of the most widely planted invasive shrubs in the United States. This thorny shrub is tolerant of shade and quickly invades forests. It also produces chemicals that suppress growth in native plants. Like honeysuckles, barberry produces abundant fruits spread by wildlife. Despite these threats, Japanese barberry still is widely planted in gardens and landscaping for its attractive burgundy leaves. Visit the Radford Phenology Monitoring website for info about invasive species in Radford, VA. At Wildwood Park, Japanese barberry occurred most often in Dry-Mesic Oak Forests. (Photo by Sheila Shund)
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Abundance of non-native invasive plant species, by forest type at Wildwood Park. Mixed Mesophytic Forests and Floodplain forests (wetland forests) had greatest abundance of invasive plant species (highest % ground area covered by invasive plants). |