Invasive Plants

Invasive Plant Species on your property and how to manage them:

According to the Native Plant Trust, invasive species are on the move, and they grow and reproduce faster than native species in the same growing conditions as they are free from predators, diseases, and other plants to keep them in check.

According to the Massachusetts Audubon, there are more than 2,200 document plants in the Commonwealth, and out of the total, about 725 are considered non-native plant species that have been established.

Around Watertown:

These are common invasive plant species around the City and many more:

• Black Swallow-Wort (Vincetoxicum louiseae) See the Black Swallow Wort PSA (PDF)
• Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
• Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
• Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolate)

What can you do?

• Purchase and plant native plant species 
• Find about which invasive species are in your backyard -- Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List | Mass.gov
• Steps to safely remove the invasive plant species from your backyard -- Managing Common Invasives (nativeplanttrust.org)

Helpful links:

• Methods for Disposing Non-Native Invasive Plants (ymaws.com)
• https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/distribution.cfm
• Controlling Invasive Plants: Let's Start In Our Own Back Yards - Newton Conservators
• Major Invasive Plant Species in Newton, MA - Newton Conservators
• Connecticut Invasive Plant List | Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (uconn.edu)