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Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service

Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service

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HERBACEOUS FORBS<br />

Bill Johnson<br />

Distribution and Habitat<br />

Habitats invaded include open woodlands, prairies, roadsides,<br />

ditches, and other disturbed areas.<br />

Ecological Threat<br />

Dame’s rocket displaces native plant species.<br />

Description and Biology<br />

• <strong>Plant</strong>: herbaceous, biennial forb up to 4 ft. in height.<br />

• Leaves: alternate, hairy, broadly lanceolate with toothed margins,<br />

sessile or nearly so, 2-6 in. long.<br />

• Flowers, fruits and seeds: flowers showy, fragrant, white to<br />

purple or pink with 4 petals in a cross; late spring; fruits slender,<br />

cylindrical and arch upwards.<br />

• Spreads: by seed.<br />

• Look-alikes: might be confused with wild blue phlox ( Phlox<br />

divaricata), fall phlox (Phlox paniculata) and non-native annual<br />

honesty (Lunaria annua).<br />

Prevention and Control<br />

Do not purchase or plant this species. Individual plants can be pulled<br />

by hand if soil is moist or dug up using a spade or shovel to loosen the<br />

soil and remove the entire root system. Re-sprouting may occur if<br />

entire root system is not removed. Systemic herbicides can be used to<br />

kill the entire plant including the roots (see Control Options).<br />

Native Alternatives<br />

Ox-eye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), Canada lily (Lilium<br />

canadense), wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum), Turk’s cap lily<br />

(Lilium superbum), and three-lobed coneflower (Rudbeckia triloba)<br />

are just a few showy native perennials that would make good<br />

substitutes for dame’s rocket.<br />

42

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