Some plants are pretty yet called invasive, but what can one harmless plant do?

Somewhere in the 1950’s or maybe 60’s, long before the environmental movement came into being or used the word ‘invasive’ to describe plants or even really understood the consequences of planting certain non-native plants, Pastor Althouse planted a small area of his property with Vinca.

Now, 60 years later you can see Vinca covering a large area of the 17 acre property. While beautiful, with periwinkle flowers in the Spring,  you’ll notice that this European native pretty much smothers out all native growth.

Along riverbanks it suppresses normal erosion and can make a stream less hospitable to native aquatic life. Tree seedlings can’t compete so fewer trees grow in the area. With no nutritional value, wildlife including insects and pollinators can’t feed on it and as it smothers native plants that have food value to wildlife it makes for slim pickins and forces wildlife to starve or go elsewhere.

While we’re keeping Vinca Meadow (even added a hammock for it as it’s such a peaceful place to be!) with the help of volunteers, we will be removing Vinca and other invasive species from other areas of the Arboretum allowing native plants to repopulate the area.

Moral of the story? When you’re shopping for plants for your garden this Spring consider looking for native plants that support the environment and wildlife. It could make a big difference.

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