Contact: Jil Swearingen, Invasive Species Consultant, Cheverly, Maryland | jilswearingen@gmail.com ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 1, 2017) – Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a highly invasive plant species native to China and East Asia, that impacts natural areas, agricultural areas, and urban areas. It was first introduced into the U.S. around 1784 by William Hamilton at his […]
Contact: Michael Ellis, M-NCPPC | Michael.Ellis@pgparks.com | Written by Kerrie Kyde. ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 1, 2017) – Tall silver and white and even purple plumes of grass nodding from old fields and road edges may catch your eye as they are tossed by autumn winds. Graceful and attractive in gardens, some ornamental grasses are rapidly becoming natural […]
Contact: Shelley Brunelle, Maryland SHA | SBrunelle@sha.state.md.us ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 01, 2017) – When did you last travel along congested I-495, I-95 between Washington DC and Baltimore, or on US 50 toward Annapolis, and notice something missing? Missing are certainly not angry red taillights or flashing blue lights or even cautious amber work lights. Missing is […]
Contact Marc Imlay: ialm@erols.com | Written by Marc Imlay and Kerrie Kyde. ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 01, 2017) – In the last days of summer, walking in the lawn in your bare feet, you may encounter small carpetgrass, Arthraxon hispidus. Also known as hairy joint grass, jointhead, and occasionally referred to as small carpgrass, this Asian annual has […]
Contact: Cathy Stragar, MDA | Catherine.Stragar@maryland.gov Photo courtesy of Chris Joll © 2017 ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 01, 2017) – A minor player on the invasive team’s bench of heavy hitters, the Asiatic oak weevil is still an invader to watch, especially for forest managers and invasion ecologists. Indigenous to Japan, the Asiatic oak weevil was first […]
Contact: Kerrie Kyde kerrie.kyde@maryland.gov and Jil Swearingen jilswearingen@gmail.com ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 04, 2017) – Even if you don’t have a degree in science, you can help support scientific research through a number of “citizen science” efforts. For invasive species research in Maryland, one of the best ways to help is through data collection. Collecting data is […]
Contact: Dawn Miller | Dawn.Miller2@maryland.gov ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 04, 2017) – Although it is an attractive herbaceous perennial named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, yellow flag iris is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Because of its invasive tendencies and negative impacts in natural and agricultural systems, Iris pseudacorus, commonly known as yellow flag iris, […]
Contact: Damien Ossi | Damien.Ossi@dc.gov ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 01, 2017) – Incised fumewort (Corydalis incisa), also known as purple keman, is a biennial, shade-tolerant forb in the poppy family, related to bleeding-hearts and to the showy garden perennial spring fumewort. It is native to eastern Asia. Incised fumewort appears to be uncommon in the horticultural trade, […]
Contact: Sylvan Kaufman | Sylvan.Kaufman@gmail.com ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 01, 2017) – Gardeners love viburnums for their white spring flowers, compact growth, and colorful fall fruits and foliage. Few gardeners know that some viburnums have become invasive plants and should be avoided. Linden viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum), doublefile viburnum or Japanese snowball (V. plicatum), and Siebold viburnum (V. […]
Contact: Ramesh R Pokharel, Plant Pathologist, Maryland Department of Agriculture| ramesh.pokharel@maryland.gov ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 05, 2017) – Sudden oak death, a relatively new disease, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, was found for the first time in 1995, infecting oaks in California. The disease was known only in California and southwestern Oregon until 2002. However, the U.S. […]