Invasive plants in our area – what you need to know

(Maine) The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has announced new rules that prohibit the sale and distribution of 33 plants that have been found to be invasive. While the new rule has taken effect, Maine nurseries and garden centers have until January 1st, 2018 to sell any stock they already have on hand.

Star 97.7 contacted Reeser Manley for more information on the subject.  Mr. Manley is a retired teacher with a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science (Washington State University).  While at University of Maine, he conducted research on invasive species, specifically Euonymus alatus (burning bush), and he’s been an advocate for eliminating invasives from our landscapes for many years.  Mr. Manley also wrote a garden column for the Bangor Daily News for 10 years and just published a book, The Life in Your Garden: Gardening for Biodiversity.  He now serve as Chair of the Conservation, Environment, and Habitat Committee for the Ellsworth Garden Club.

Mr. Manley constructed this short list of native plants as a replacement for private and public landscapes:

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Native Cherries (Prunus prunus pensylvanica and P. serotina)

River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Heritage’)

Paperbark Birch(B. papyrifera,)

Yellow Birch (B. alleghaniensis)

Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

Serviceberries (Amelanchier sp.)

Speckled Alder (Alnus incana rugosa)

Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)

Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)

Native Roses (Rosa carolina, R. virginiana)

Elderberries (Sambucus canadensis)

Highbush Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum)

To learn more about the importance of recognizing and removing these invasive plants from your property, listen to interview clips with Reeser Manley during our newscasts this afternoon at 4, 5, & 6 PM as well as tomorrow morning with Stu Marckoon every half-hour between 6 – 9 AM.