Adapted Courtesy of Trees Atlanta (treesatlanta.org)
English ivy is often planted as a ground cover in yards. Aggressive, it often spreads into neighboring properties and climbs trees. Tempted to bring some ivy into your life? Plant it in a pot indoors.
Although Japanese honeysuckle flowers smell good, this vine can mean big trouble for our forests. It is the 5th most commonly observed invasive plant in the country.
Japanese stilt grass is an annual grass that often covers the ground near stream corridors. Unlike most grasses, it thrives in the shade.
Kudzu was purposefully planted all over the south in the early 20th century to reduce erosion from poor farming practices. Though no longer planted, we are still stuck with it. During peak growing season, it can grow up to a foot a day! Well-established kudzu roots can weigh up to 400 pounds!
Monkey or Mondo grass is planted for its evergreen appeal and purple flowers. Because this plant grows so well in the shade, it takes over the forest floor, creating thick mats suffocating our native ground layers.
Believe it or not, privet takes up more space in our forests than kudzu and can be just as harmful. These evergreens can reach more than 30 feet tall full-grown, shading out anything trying to grow beneath them.
Invasive wisterias (Chinese/Japanese) are commonly planted for their enchanting and fragrant flowers. This vine, which often escapes into our forests, grows aggressively. It covers the forest floor and wraps tightly around trees, starving them of nutrients needed to grow.