Midwest Invasive – Page 3 – Purdue Arboretum Explorer

Liana (Climbing Vine)

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Hedera helix 'Thorndale'
[Thorndale English Ivy]

'Thorndale' is a very hardy cultivar that has large, glossy leaves with striking white veination. Tolerant of heavy shade to full sun except at the northern limits of its useful range, where some protection from full winter sun is necessary. Useful as a groundcover and vine. Vigorous and can be a weed problem in certain regions of the country (like the NW US) where it can smother woodlands. Poisonous fruits, but it generally takes many…

Shrub

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Ligustrum obtusifolium
[Border Privet]

Performs well as an informal hedge, but perhaps too coarse to be a good formal clipped hedge. Extremely tolerant of different soils and climates. Can be coppiced to rejuvenate. Can be invasive by seed.

Shrub

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Ligustrum obtusifolium var. regelianum
[Regelianum Border Privet]

Ligustrum obtusifolium var. regelianum adds an interesting textural effect to the landscape with its horizontally arranged branches and distichously arranged (in one, flat plane) leaves. An excellent plant used as an informal hedge, but perhaps too coarse to be a good formal clipped hedge. Extremely tolerant of different soils and climates. Can be coppiced to rejuvenate. Can be invasive by seed.

Shrub

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Lonicera maackii
[Amur Honeysuckle]

Widely adaptable to different soils and exposures. Can be trained into a small patio tree. Suckers freely, requiring pruning in intensive situations. Seeds, carried by birds, germinate freely, and weed seedlings result. High shade tolerance contributes greatly to its highly invasive character. Perhaps the worst woody weed in the Midwestern and Northwestern US.

Shrub

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Lonicera tatarica
[Tatarian Honeysuckle]

Widely adapted to different soils and exposures, but avoid wet soils. Pruning of dead twigs is required periodically. Renewal pruning to a low framework every 5-8 years is helpful to maintain nice form and vigor. Russian aphid, which causes witches brooming, is a significant pest. Lonicera tatarica readily invades open woodlands, old fields, and other disturbed sites. It can spread rapidly due to birds and mammals dispersing the seeds and can form an extremely dense…

Shrub

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Lonicera tatarica 'Zabelii'
[Zabelii Tatarian Honeysuckle]

Widely adapted to different soils and exposures, but avoid wet soils. Pruning of dead twigs is required periodically. Renewal pruning to a low framework every 5-8 years is helpful to maintain nice form and vigor. Russian aphid, which causes witches brooming, is a significant pest. Lonicera tatarica readily invades open woodlands, old fields, and other disturbed sites. It can spread rapidly due to birds and mammals dispersing the seeds and can form an extremely dense…

Tree

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Morus alba
[White Mulberry]

It will grow in nearly any situation. There are occasional problems with cankers, mites, and bacterial blights. Morus alba is very similar to the native red mulberry (Morus rubra), but may be distinguished by the leaves. Its leaves have glossy surfaces whereas the leaves of Morus rubra do not. Morus alba is found throughout the United States, where it invades old fields, urban lots, roadsides, forest edges, and other disturbed areas. It poses an ecological…

Tree

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Phellodendron amurense
[Amur Corktree]

A striking tree for its interesting bark and massive framework. Widely adaptable to soil, trouble-free, and drought and pollution resistance. Easily transplanted. May be less hardy when young and rapidly growing. Fruits smell like turpentine when crushed (or stepped on). This tree is demonstrating invasive characteristics in suburban and urban fringe forests. It escapes intended plantings to invade and displace native hardwood forests. Note: only female plants have the potential to become invasive. Phellodendron amurense…

Tree

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Pyrus calleryana
[Callery Pear]

Overused, weak wooded, short-lived. Flowers are malodorous and often killed by late spring freezes. Some fireblight susceptibility. Forms narrow crotch angles that can result in a larger tree literally splitting in two. Very small fruits are a litter problem when abundant. Considered invasive in many areas.

Tree

InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat' [sold as Aristocrat®]
[Aristocrat Callery Pear]

Aristocrat is one of the better performing Callery Pear variants. Flowers are malodorous, but the later blooming Aristocrat flowers are not as often killed by late spring freezes as are the flowers of other P. calleryana variants. Some fireblight susceptibility, especially in the south. The branching of Aristocrat is more horizontal and does not form as narrow crotch angles as many other Callery Pears. Very small fruits are a litter problem when abundant. Considered invasive…

Plants

Special Characteristics: Invasive : Midwest Invasive

Invasive plants that have the potential to cause environmental, human health, or financial harm in Midwestern states. However, this is a broad category that could contain native plants that can become problematic in optimal conditions.