Native Woody Plants of the Southern United States with Weedy or Invasive Tendencies: A Review of Common Offenders

Abstract

<jats:p>Five woody species, black locust (<jats:italic>Robinia pseudoacacia</jats:italic>), yaupon holly (<jats:italic>Ilex vomitoria</jats:italic>), black cherry (<jats:italic>Prunus serotina</jats:italic>), snailvine [<jats:italic>Cocculus carolinus</jats:italic> (formerly <jats:italic>Menispermum carolinum</jats:italic> or <jats:italic>Epibaterium carolinum</jats:italic>)], and southern waxmyrtle [<jats:italic>Morella cerifera</jats:italic> (formerly <jats:italic>Myrica cerifera</jats:italic>)], are all native to Oklahoma and nearby states. They all have varying levels of use in and importance to the United States nursery industry. Past natural habitats and where these plants have spread to date, either intentionally or naturally, are discussed here. These native plants have migrated to or have become increasingly dominant in regions of the continental United States because of prolific fruit loads dispersed by birds and mammals, anthropogenic disturbances, overgrazing pastures, and certain species’ tolerance of environmental extremes. Potential control measures include chemical applications, timely cultivation, heightened awareness of grazing practices, and prescribed burning.</jats:p>

Invasive Plants with Native Lookalikes: How Mistaken Identities Can Lead to More Significant Plant Invasions and Delay Management

“…Because both native and non-native species of both genera can be problematic weeds in landscapes, agricultural production, and in other managed sites, along with natural areas, these species would be expected to be common targets of eradication efforts. While management would be needed regardless of native status in managed areas (Marble, 2018;Schnelle, 2019), misidentification in natural areas could lead to either misguided control efforts or delays in management, allowing small infestations to reach unmanageable levels (Standish, 2002). Due to the similarities among species within these genera, and the fact that many members of these genera are problematic, easyto-use field guides highlighting differences in native and non-native members would likely be useful for land managers and other stakeholders.…”

Selective Native Plants of Oklahoma and Nearby States That Can Be a Nuisance to Occasionally Invasive

“…However, it is becoming apparent that native species are not always "wellbehaved" and that some indigenous species can be as destructive and damaging as nonnative species. For example, a number of reports (e.g., Anderson, 2019;Anderson et al, 2021;Carey et al, 2012;Gettys, 2019;Kendle and Rose, 2000;Marble, 2018;Reichard and White, 2001;Robertson et al, 2020;Ruter, 2019;Schnelle, 2019;Schnelle and Gettys, 2021;Simberloff et al, 2012;Truong et al, 2020;Valery et al, 2009) acknowledge that native plant species can also exhibit behavior that ranges from weedy to invasive in natural areas as well as landscapes.…”

“…Carey et al (2012) report that natives can also cause ecological damage and economic impacts that rival high-profile invasive (exotic) species often attributed to human-mediated processes. Schnelle (2019) addresses five native ornamentals that can be a nuisance or even invasive under the right circumstances, becoming opportunistic with anthropogenic activities/disturbances often being the key catalyst. Native invaders complicate the development and implementation of countermeasures in science, management, society, and policy as a result of conflicting goals from diverse human interest and goals (Carey et al, 2012).…”

“…Native invaders complicate the development and implementation of countermeasures in science, management, society, and policy as a result of conflicting goals from diverse human interest and goals (Carey et al, 2012). Other indigenous ornamentals have also been reported to be weedy or invasive (Schnelle, 2019), with more than 50 U.S. native plant species perceived as invasive (Ellis, 2019;Linex, 2014;Simberloff et al, 2012). Conventional wisdom is shared by academics, horticultural practitioners, and consumers that native plants should be primarily or solely used in the United States to escape many of the consequences clearly documented regarding too many exotics.…”

Nuisance to Invasive Ornamentals: Proceedings from the ASHS Invasive Plants Research Group 2020 Workshop

“…However, it is becoming clear that native species are not always "well-behaved," and that some indigenous species can be as destructive and damaging as nonnative species. For example, a number of mostly recent reports (e.g., Anderson, 2019;Anderson et al, 2021;Gettys, 2019;Marble, 2018;Reichard and White, 2001;Robertson et al, 2020;Ruter, 2019;Schnelle, 2019;Simberloff et al, 2012) acknowledge that native plant species can also exhibit behavior that ranges from weedy to invasive in nature and in cultivated settings. Also, there are conflicting opinions on how to categorize native plants that are nuisances vs. those that are actually invasive-in other words, do they have the potential simply to be an inconvenience or annoyance, or are they displacing other native flora and/or fauna and disrupting ecological processes?…”