Take Action to Help Fight Invasive Plant Species
By Fern Campbell
Piedmont Master Gardener
National Invasive Species Awareness Week is coming up, scheduled for February 24-28. This annual event raises awareness about invasive species in North America, the threat they pose, and what can be done to prevent their spread. Here in our community, multiple organizations are working together and on their own to address the problem of invasive plants.
Trees covered with English ivy are a common sight in our area. Photo by Bill Sublette
What are invasive species and how did they get here?
The federal government defines invasive species as nonnative plants, animals, insects and diseases “whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Most of the ornamental or other plants now classified as invasive were brought here on purpose for cultivation in our gardens. Others arrived unintentionally via shipping, such as a contaminant in crop seeds or imported plants or as hitchhikers in packing materials. It is estimated that 85 percent of invasives are “escapees” from our gardens. It is important to note that not all exotic or non-native plants are invasive—think apple trees, wheat, potatoes, tomatoes.
What makes invasive plants successful?
Invasive plants can move aggressively into an area, with rapid growth and maturity, rampant vegetative spread and prolific seed production and dispersal. Once established, they monopolize light, nutrients, water and space to the detriment of native species. Some exude allelopathic chemicals into the soil that prevent the germination and/or growth of adjacent, competing plants. Rising temperatures, increased CO2 in our atmosphere and extreme weather events that disturb soil and alter landscapes help to facilitate the establishment and spread of invasive species, making habitats, ecosystems and agriculture less resilient.
When invasive plants overrun native plants and establish a monoculture, the area may be more prone to pests and wildfires, among other harmful impacts. According to the Columbia University Climate School, as the climate warms, the number of exotic/alien species on every continent is expected to increase by 36 percent by 2050.
English ivy removal on UVA North Grounds. Photo by Bill Sublette
Why should we be concerned?
Our native plants are not adapted to compete with invasive species and suffer as a result, diminishing biodiversity, degrading habitats and disrupting natural ecosystems. Invasive vines can overwhelm—and even strangle—native trees, reducing our tree canopy. Invasive species can disrupt the food web in ecosystems by destroying or replacing the native plant food sources. When native plants are threatened, so are wildlife species that have co-evolved with these plants, depriving them of some of the food and host plants necessary for their survival.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation officially lists 103 invasive plant species in Virginia. Even more plants that affect our region can be found in the USDA Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants of Southern Forests and the booklet Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, published by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The cost to remove or control these plants can be eye-popping. Although statistics are scarce, invasive species (both plants and animals) inflict costs of more than $1 billion annually in Virginia. In 2019, the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) reported that alien invasive species—again, both plants and animals—cost the world more than $423 billion a year, having quadrupled every decade since 1970.
What is being done in our community?
Invasive species affect everyone. As stewards of our natural resources, each of us must do what we can to halt the spread of invasives. We are fortunate to live in a community where many folks and organizations are focusing considerable time and effort on helping to educate the public about how to identify invasive species and manage their impacts.
A Tree Steward volunteer cuts invasive vines attacking a tree in a local park. Photo by Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards
Organizations actively working in our community and providing educational resources include:
Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM)
PRISM’s mission is to reduce the serious and destructive impact of nonnative plants in the northern Blue Ridge region. In addition to providing free fact sheets and many other helpful resources, they offer in-person and online educational content at many venues. Check out their website and sign up for their newsletter.
Piedmont Master Gardeners’ Healthy Landscapes Program
In this seasonal program, Extension Master Gardeners make residential site visits to help homeowners create a healthy habitat for both human enjoyment and native flora and fauna. As part of a site-specific, customized assessment, Master Gardeners can help the homeowner identify and learn to manage invasive plants and will recommend native plants to replace invasives in the landscape. Learn more at piedmontmastergardeners.org.
Charlottesville’s Invasive Plant Partnership (CHIPP)
Launched in late 2024, this new initiative aims “to inspire awareness and action to protect our native species from invasive plants.” It brings local government agencies and nonprofit organizations together to mobilize community-driven efforts to treat and remove invasive vines that threaten the urban tree canopy. Climate scientists recommend a minimum of 40 percent urban tree canopy to mitigate the harmful effects of rising temperatures. Charlottesville’s tree canopy has dropped below that threshold. CHIPP partner organizations include the Charlottesville Office of Sustainability, City Parks & Recreation, Blue Ridge PRISM, Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, Rivanna Master Naturalists, Piedmont Master Gardeners, ReLeaf Cville, Charlottesville Tree Commission, Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, and Rivanna Conservation Alliance. They are reaching out to city neighborhoods to educate, share resources and work collaboratively to help make a visible and long-term impact on protecting the community’s tree canopy.
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards (CATS)
The Tree Stewards invites other community volunteers to join them in their efforts to remove invasive plants that threaten trees and other resources on local public lands. For their half-day projects, they supply hand tools, provide training on tool safety and invasive plant identification, and work side-by-side with volunteers.
Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)
This cost-share program offers financial, technical and educational support to property owners in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watershed who install eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) on residential or other developed properties. Homeowners who replace invasive plants with native plants may qualify. To see if you are eligible, check out their website.
Rivanna Conservation Alliance
Invasive plants are a pervasive threat to the Rivanna River and the forests in its watershed. To help protect these natural resources, RCA collaborates with other community groups to improve forest health through the Rivanna River Resilience Partnership. It is also leading the grant-funded Rivanna River Forest Health and Resilience Project, which includes management of high-risk invasive plants and the planting of native trees.
Virginia Department of Forestry
Visit dof.virginia.gov to find useful information on forest management and health, including control treatments for nonnative invasive plants.
Virginia Invasive Plant Coalition
Their website provides links to a wide variety of invasive plant identification and control resources, including the Virginia Invasive Plants ID and Control App.
Everyone can play a role in managing invasive species. Here are five ways you can help:
- Learn more about invasive species. Attend workshops to educate yourself about which plants are invasive, how to identify them and how to dispose of them properly. The ideal way to stop the spread is to keep invasive species out of new areas. Learn to recognize the plants when they are young and easy to remove.
- Don’t buy nonnative invasive plants—even if you can. Banning the sale of invasive plants is not as straightforward as you might expect. As a consumer, make sure not to purchase or plant nonnative invasives such as English ivy, which is still in the market. For more information, research noxious weed law in Virginia.
- Choose native species. Select native plants that are suitable for your home landscape site. (To start, visit plantvirginianatives.org). For trees, consider their susceptibility to invasive insects.
- Volunteer to help remove invasive species from public lands and important natural areas.
- Spread the word. Help educate your neighbors. Invite an expert on invasive plants to speak to your HOA. Share social media posts about invasive species, community education events and volunteer activities.
Invasive species are a pressing ecological and economic problem, both here in the U.S. and worldwide. Knowledge is a powerful tool. It will help you to control invasive species in your own backyard and to inspire others to follow your example.
Featured photo by Bill Sublette