Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives : Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Karen Japanese barberry is a thorny, deciduous shrub growing 3-6’ tall with obvate green leaves that are up to 1 ¼” long and turn yellow to red in the fall. Pendent…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Common Bird’s-Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
This herbaceous perennial is also known as eggs and bacon and bird’s-foot deer vetch and is native to grasslands of Eurasia and North Africa. It was introduced to the US…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Dames rocket is a biennial or short-lived perennial known by a variety of names including dame’s violet, mother of the evening, and sweet rocket. It was introduced from Eurasia into…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus)
A native of Australia, Tasmanian blue gum has naturalized in coastal grasslands and shrublands, riparian areas and moist slopes of California. It was introduced there in the mid 1800s partially…
Plant Profile: Oxeye Daisey (Leucanthemum vulgare aka Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)
Oxeye daisy is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial and belongs to the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflowers, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to Europe and Asia but was…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Crown Vetch (Securigera varia aka Coronilla varia)
Also called purple vetch, this herbaceous perennial is native to Europe, southwest Asia, and northern Africa but was introduced to North America in the 1950s and was used as a…
Plant Profile: Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Dames rocket is a biennial or short-lived perennial known by a variety of names including dame’s violet, mother of the evening, and sweet rocket. It is a member of the…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)
Also called wild carrot, bird’s nest, and bishop’s lace, this herbaceous biennial is a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, dill, and poison hemlock. It is…
Plant Profile: Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata)
Also called prairie baby’s breath, flowering spurge is a herbaceous perennial and member of the euphorbia family, Euphorbiaceae, that also includes poinsettia, caster oil plant, and cassava. It is native…
Plant Profile: Common Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Also called lady’s glove, fairy gloves, and fairy bells, this herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial is a member of the plantain family, Plantaginaceae, that also includes penstemon, turtlehead, and speedwell.…