Chris,
I really appreciated your article. Very well presented stating the problems, causes, and solutions and cautions. I guess every ecosystem is a prime target for hosting unwanted invasive plants. Thanks for providing the links to invasives by state. Should be really helpful. I'll share that I once heard of someone tossing seed balls loaded with who knows what sorts of seeds into a pristine desert area. Not good. Lots to learn about this subject!

Nice article Chris. We need to spread awareness. You just did. Thanks.

I agree, too many invasive plants are getting way out of control, especially in whatever wild natural areas we still have left. I notice there's a pic of Pokeweed, however. It's a native and although it can spread fairly easily it is considered beneficial for wildlife because of its berries. I keep some in my yard for that reason...the birds just love the berries! And in this arid area it doesn't spread very much.

Thank you! We have plants in our area that behave too but are considered invasive in other areas. I think that happens often and that's why lots of invasives are "innocently" spread. Awareness is important in keeping them under control and Linda, it sounds like you're already doing just that! Hope the article proves useful for everyone to find out more information for their locations.

Luvly article goldfinch4

The bad boy in our area is Kudzu -

GREAT article!

One our our biggies is purple loosestrife, but we have several. Glad you enjoyed the article!

We have too many to begin to list them in Florida.

LindaTX8 said:I agree, too many invasive plants are getting way out of control, especially in whatever wild natural areas we still have left. I notice there's a pic of Pokeweed, however. It's a native and although it can spread fairly easily it is considered beneficial for wildlife because of its berries. I keep some in my yard for that reason...the birds just love the berries! And in this arid area it doesn't spread very much.

Pokeweed is the bane of my existence because of how easily it spreads, BUT it's native and feeds the critters. *sigh* So I destroy it where I don't want it, and let it live in the area that's been planted specifically for the wildlife.

Very nice article, and thank you for the links.

Great article Chris.
I remember when I moved to Mississippi with DH. Kudzu had taken over many areas. I found it almost frightening to see what it was doing to the natural landscape.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K...

In my area we are having problems with ivy trying to do the same thing.

Thanks Lynn. It is sad to see how it can choke out everything else.

It really is. I am fitting seedlings of ivy from the neighbors ivy hedge that he lets bloom and go to seed. The birds carry the seed everywhere.