A Management Guide for Invasive Plants in Southern Forests James ...

115Appendix B —Nonnative Invasive Plant Species Not to be Used or Recommendedfor Wildlife Food Plots nor Bird and Butterfly Viewing GardensThere has been an explosion in the range of species and cultivars recommended, sold, and planted to enhance“wildlife food.” Nonnative species are often recommended by Federal, State, and private game managementagencies and organizations. As with gardening, imported species and wildlife seed mixes remain unregulated andare increasingly bred to be more vigorous, produce more fruit and seed, and be more immune to native predators.This is the common setup that enables some of these cultivars to become more aggressive and possibly invasive,even if they first appear benign due to the recognized lag phase. Nonnative species are often used becausethey are perceived to have “the upper hand” on native plant species that have coevolved with and supported theremaining wildlife and nongame fauna of southern ecosystems. Nonnative species are also used in an effort torestore disturbed sites, to compensate for plant-successional deficiencies in forested landscapes, and for nutritionaldeficiencies related to soil characteristics. The unbridled use of nonnative plants is a situation that is bound todegrade and pollute our native forests, wetlands, and grasslands.Ideally, nonnative species should not be planted in forested areas. When using plant and seed catalogs, avoid thoselabeled “imported” , “Asian” , “European” , “Siberian” , or “exotic.” Any nonnative seed established in a forest or grasslandfor specific game species has a good chance of escaping into surrounding habitat and permanently degrading itsvalue for other wildlife species. Select plants and seeds native to your planting zone, or if possible, to your locale.The following nonnative species are recognized invasive plants by one to several States or agencies in the Southeast(www.invasive.org/southeast/):TreesRussian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia L.Callery pear, Bradford pearPyrus calleryana Decne.Sawtooth oakQuercus acutissima CarruthersShrubsButterflybushBuddleja davidii Franch.Silverthorn, thorny oliveElaeagnus pungens Thunb.Autumn oliveElaeagnus umbellata Thunb.Surinam cherry Eugenia uniflora L.Winged burning bushEuonymus alatus (Thunb.) SieboldLargeleaf lantana Lantana camara L.Shrubby bushclover, bicolor lespedeza Lespedeza bicolor Turcz.Thunberg’s lespedezaLespedeza thunbergii (DC.) NakaiJapanese privetLigustrum japonicum Thunb.Glossy privetLigustrum lucidum W.T. AitonBorder privetLigustrum obtusifolium Siebold & Zucc.Chinese privetLigustrum sinense Lour.PrivetLigustrum spp.European privet, common privet Ligustrum vulgare L.Bell’s honeysuckleLonicera ×bella Zabel [morrowii × tatarica]Sweet breath of springLonicera fragrantissima Lindl. & PaxtonAmur honeysuckleLonicera maackii (Rupr.) HerderMorrow’s honeysuckleLonicera morrowii A. GrayStandish’s honeysuckleLonicera standishii JacquesTatarian honeysuckle, twinsister’s Lonicera tatarica L.continued