Invasive species simply don't belong in Baltimore. Invasive species are non-native plant or animal that was imported to this area from another region and tend to outcompete native plants. Some non-native plant are perfectly fine in our gardens, but others can be too aggressive, escaping into our forests and wetlands causing big problems for local wildlife. Wildlife depends on the native plants in the environment for food and shelter, when non-native plants take over a habitat; the animals are sometimes the losers. Plants like Oriental bittersweet are spread by birds, who eat their seeds then spread the plants to other areas. One major problem the JFWA works on is removing invasive vines from trees in the stream buffer. Vines like Japanese honeysuckle and English Ivy climb trees and can strangle and kill them over time, especially young trees. We work to identify vulnerable forest areas, then work with volunteers to cut the vines to stop the process. We have done extensive work in Meadowood Park, Druid Hill Park, Stony Run Park, Western Run Park and Wyman Park, which promising results. But, invasive plants are tenacious, so we try to return to our projects at least annually to keep the invasives at bay.
Invasive Plants and the Jones Falls
Be Part of the Solution!
- Don't plant invasive plants in your garden.
- Check with your local garden store to be sure.
- Use native plants whenever possible; natives provide food for wildlife and are disease and drought tolerant.
- Join the JFWA at one of our Second Saturday restoration projects to help remove invasives from our parks.
