Invasive Flora Troubles in Rhode Island: A Look at Ten Offenders, Accompanied by Recommendations for Twenty Native Species as Alternatives
In the picturesque landscapes of Rhode Island, the choice of shrubs for gardens can greatly impact the local ecosystem. Here's a rundown of some invasive and native shrubs to help you make informed decisions.
The burning bush is a medium to large deciduous shrub, known for its bushy habit and brilliant red fall foliage. Its opposite, elliptic leaves have finely toothed margins and are dark green in summer. This shrub also features inconspicuous green flowers that give way to paired red-orange fruits that ripen to purple in autumn.
However, it's important to note that the burning bush can become invasive in certain areas. A native alternative to the burning bush and a popular choice is the red maple (A. rubrum).
Another invasive species is the privet (Ligustrum spp.), semi-evergreen to deciduous shrubs commonly used as hedges. They have small, dark green, ovate leaves, clusters of white flowers, and glossy, blue-black berries.
In contrast, Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica, M. caroliniensis) and inkberry (Ilex glabra) are native shrubs that can be used as alternatives to privet. They offer similar benefits without the invasive potential.
The Norway maple, a common sight in Rhode Island, is actually an invasive tree. It grows up to 50 feet tall, has a competitive root system, and produces a milky sap when a petiole is broken. A native alternative to the Norway maple is the red maple (A. rubrum).
Japanese barberry is another dense, stand-forming shrub in Rhode Island with small, oval to spatula-shaped leaves, grooved stems with a sharp spine, and crimson berries that ripen in late summer. Eastern ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) and American cranberrybush viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) are native alternatives to Japanese barberry.
Porcelainberry, a vine-like shrub, can climb trees and form dense mats over vegetation. Its foliage looks a lot like grape leaves, with three to five lobes per leaf and slightly hairy undersides. Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla sessilifolia) is a native shrub that is very similar to Morrow's honeysuckle. Limber honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica) is a true honeysuckle with a sprawling or climbing habit and striking red flowers.
Morrow's honeysuckle is a woody perennial shrub with opposite, oblong, gray-green leaves that bloom in pairs with creamy white to yellow tubular flowers in early spring. Red berries that follow the flowers of Morrow's honeysuckle last only from midsummer to fall.
Autumn olive is a deciduous shrub with alternate, oval leaves, brown stems with silvery speckles, small fragrant yellow flowers, and small red berries. Native elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) has a similar habit and produces masses of creamy flowers followed by berry clusters that birds love.
Virginia rose (R. virginiana) and swamp rose (R. palustris) are native species in Rhode Island that produce pink flowers. English ivy is an evergreen ground cover that forms dense, weed-excluding mats on the ground and climbs into tree canopies. Its waxy, dark green leaves range from unlobed to having as many as five lobes, though all have pale veins.
Lastly, Multiflora rose is an invasive shrub or climbing rose in Rhode Island that can grow up to 15 feet high and almost as wide, with compound leaves, small fragrant white to pink flowers, and bright red rose hips.
This article series about invasive plants in Rhode Island is authored by Jonathan Katz. By making conscious choices about the shrubs we introduce to our gardens, we can help preserve the natural beauty of Rhode Island.
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