Invasive Species Information

What is an invasive species?

There is more than one definition for “invasive species.” In general, an invasive species is a plant introduced to an area from another part of the world (i.e., non-native), spreading aggressively and negatively impacting native species and overall ecosystem function. It is also worth noting that not all non-native plants are invasive and there are also invasive animal species. This document takes a look at plants.

What is a noxious weed?

Some invasive plants are categorized as “noxious weeds” which means they are aggressive enough to be harmful to environmental or human health or well-being, but they also have the potential to be eradicated or controlled within Washington. They are harmful because they reduce crop yields, destroy native plant and animal habitat, damage outdoor recreational opportunities, clog waterways, lower land values, create erosion problems and fire hazards, and (sometimes) poison humans and livestock. Unlike invasive species, noxious weeds are legally defined in Washington State, with an obligation on the land-owner to control the plant to some degree depending on its classification (A, B, or C). Some invasive plants are not worthwhile to attempt removing (e.g, Hedge Bindweed), so they are not listed as noxious weeds.

Groups of volunteers working at cutting back a bank of invasive weeds along a hillside.

What can we do to prevent the spread of invasive species?

  • Avoid planting invasive ornamental plants
  • Don’t dump aquariums or houseplants into the environment
  • Buy firewood from the same place that you are burning it to prevent the spread of invasive insects
  • When traveling, clean clothes, boots, animals, and boats to prevent spread.
    • Have you ever seen boot brushes/hoof picks at trailheads? Use them on the way in and out!

Common Invasive Species

Blackberry leaves and berries, attached to red or green canes. These leaves may be slightly velvety on top. The canes are angular, so when rolled between two fingers it feels more star shaped than a round cylinder, but watch out for large thorns. The aggregate berries of this plant are hard unripe, and squish easily when ripe. The ripe berries smell and taste sweet and a little bit earthy.
A Blackberry flower has small white flowers with five delicate round white- pink petals, typically arranged in clusters of 5 to 20. The flowers and berries may have scratchy hair-like stamen.

Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/himalayan-blackberry

Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus discolor, Rubus procerus, Rubus bifrons)

Identification: 

  • Five/three rounded alternately arranged leaves
  • Flower clusters of 5-20 flowers, with small (1 in diameter) delicate white-light pink flowers with five petals and hair like stamen 
  • The thorny stems/canes are angular, not round and can be up to 40 feet long, and then re-root when they reach the ground
  • Berries are hard and green or red when unripe, and black or purple, soft and sweet when ripe. Berries smell and taste sweet and earthy
  • NOT trailing blackberry, a native species. Trailing blackberries usually have only three leaflets, and usually grow along the ground with smaller fruits and narrower canes.

More info: 

  • The Himalayan blackberry is a plant native to Asia, which quickly overgrows large areas, reducing habitat for native species
Trees covered in ivy, the trunks are enveloped by the vines and leaves. The leaves can be heavy weight on the trees increasing risk of them falling during storms

Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/english-ivy

Dark green three to five lobed ivy leaves. They feel very smooth and on top, and rougher on the bottom where each vein also stands out. The flowers are very small, yellow-green and grow in clusters of many flowers originating from one point.
A thick ivy root, about 2 inches thick. These roots and vines can be flexible when smaller, or hard and wood like when they get more than about ½ an inch thick. When they get larger they also get many thin rootlets that grow out perpendicular to the main root and feel similar to scratchy twine.

Photo credit Eva Araujo

English Ivy (Hedera helix 'Baltica', Hedera helix 'Pittsburgh', Hedera helix 'Star', Hedera hibernica 'Hibernica')

Identification:

  • English ivy is an evergreen plant, with dark green lobed, alternative leaves which feel smooth on top and rougher on the underside
  • Vines grow rootlets to cling onto surfaces as they climb. They can become as thick as four inches or more in diameter, and feel scratchy like twine
  • Mature plants grow small yellow-green flowers in the fall, and dark purple berries in late winter/early spring

More info:

  • Refers to a group of ivy species, most of which came from Europe. It both outcompetes native species, and kills trees by shading them out or acting as a wind sail
  • The sap and stems can also cause skin irritation, and if consumed in large amounts is toxic to people and cattle
  • Since it has shallow roots but outcompetes native plants, it can increase slope failure problems
A photo of a scotch broom branch, which has bright yellow pea shaped flowers. That means they have one large round petal pointing up on top, and several pointed down below it. The stems are dark brown to green and have many small leaves on them.

https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/scotch-broom

A scotch broom bush outsplayed. It has yellow flowers covering the bush and can get 3-10 feet tall.

Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org

A photo of scotch broom leaves which are shaped like ovals pointed at each end with one vein down the center. They are ¾ to one inch long and often come in groupings of three.

Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius):

Identification:

  • Bright yellow pea like flowers on evergreen branches with simple pointed leaves up to an inch long
  • Flowers are sweet smelling
  • Gets hard black seedpods with hairy edges in the spring, which start out as green
  • Can grow 6 to 10 feet tall

More info:

  • In the pea family, and outcompetes native plants and can cause fire hazards
  • Can slow restoration of forests and wetlands
  • Can cause mild poisoning to animals like horses
  • Seedpods can survive for up to 60 years
A close up photo of a holly branch. The waxy leaves are paired alternately and about two inches long, with many sharp spines along the edges and at the point of the leaf. The branch also has a cluster of small, hard, bright red fruit, which cluster close to the branch and have a small rough spot on the end opposite the stem. They have three or four small seeds inside when broken open.

Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/27151/English-Holly

 

English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

 

Identification:

  • Alternate leaves are 1-3 inches long, waxy, and have sharp spines along the edges.
  • Distinctive hard red fruit in late fall-winter, with three or four small seeds
  • This evergreen shrub can grow 15-30 ft tall, with a smooth, silver/gray trunk.
  • NOT Oregon grape, a native plant which has blue/purple berries, and less waxy, opposite leaves with much smaller spines

More info:

  • Berries are poisonous to humans and pets
  • Was introduced from Europe for ornamental purposes.
  • Birds easily spread the seeds, and it outcompetes native species.
Many clematis flowers, arranged so thickly that they cover most of the leaves below. The flowers have long stamens which make them feel and appear fuzzy

Katrina Wiese CC BY-SA 2.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

Some clematis stems with a single flower centered. This plant has long matte leaves arranged alternately on dark brown stems. The leaves are round near the main stem and pointed at the tips. Both stems and leaves are thin and very flexible. The flower has five thin oval shaped white petals

Alpsdake

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode

Clematis (Clematis terniflora)

 

Identification:

  • Climbing, flexible vine with opposite leaves and 4-5 petals on white flowers
  • Flowers get long stamens which make them feel and appear fuzzy
  • Typically brown stems

More info:

  • Very poisonous if eaten
  • Not as common as the other plants mentioned here, but present at our site
  • Native to Japan
  • Similar to english ivy, clematis quickly grows up over trees and shades out native species. It poses similar risks
A photo from the underside of a cluster of poison hemlock flowers. The end of the stem branches into many more clusters of very small white flowers. The flower clusters are shaped like small umbrellas.

Washington State Invasive Species Council

https://invasivespecies.wa.gov/priorityspecies/poison-hemlock/

 

A photo of poison hemlock leaves and stems. The stems are green and smooth with purple streaks, and branch into several stems which have clusters of compound, carrot-like leaves. Leaves have a musty smell when crushed. REMINDER

Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/poison-hemlock

Poison Hemlock

Identification:

  • Leaves are carrot or fern like, and small white flowers are arranged in clusters on the end of stems
  • Stems have reddish purple streaks, are hollow, and branch into several stems and then clusters of compound leaves
  • Leaves have a musty smell when crushed
  • Can get 6-10 feet high
  • NOT Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) which has hairy stems and only one flower cluster per stem, and is also generally 3ft tall or shorter

More info:

  • Can kill humans and animals in a few hours if ingested, wear gloves to handle
  • Touching poison hemlock with bareskin can risk exposure to the poison penetrating the skin and into the bloodstream
  • A member of the carrot family

Other non-natives you may see often but are not as threatening:

  • Creeping buttercup
  • Canada Thistle and Bull Thistle
  • Teasel
  • Tansy ragwort

Recommended Web Resources

The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board determines which plants are included on the list. The Whatcom County Noxious Weed Program is another great resource for learning more about common invasive plants in our area. The Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Council is a non-governmental organization working to educate the public, collaborate to provide solutions, and also provide research and volunteer opportunities for anyone interested. They have an informative website and a nice discussion about our role in managing invasive species in the long-term.

Questions to Contemplate

  • Why does LEAD remove invasive plants manually instead of using a much easier and quicker chemical herbicide treatment?
  • Why does LEAD remove some plants with desirable qualities, such as Himalayan blackberry with its yummy berries?
  • Why should we even care? Won't evolution just take its course in the long-term and nature will have her way no matter what we do?
  • What would be the consequences if nobody did anything?