Photo courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Resource Management, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Tree-of-Heaven was introduced from China as a garden plant in Philadelphia in 1784. It can get to heights of about 80 feet. Bark is gray to brownish-gray, turning nearly black with age. Twigs are light chestnut-brown. Leaves are pinnately compound with 11-41 leaflets. Each leaflet has an entire margin except for one or more glandular teeth at the base of the leaflet. Large terminal flower clusters are pale yellow to greenish. It can be misconstrued with the native Wild Sumac, especially younger specimens. Tree-of-Heaven thrives in disturbed soils, urban and natural areas, and in any habitat except wetlands. It is found throughout Ohio and poses the greatest threat to younger, successional or disturbed forest areas. It is also known as the host plant to the invasive leafhopper, the Spotted Lantern fly. The Ohio Department of Agriculture asks that property owners destroy all instances of this plant on sight to quell SLF spread in Ohio.

Photo courtesy of Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Amur, Morrow’s Bush and Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)

Native to Manchuria, Korea and Asia. Was introduced in the U.S. around 1896. It can grow up to 16 feet high and can form large stands that prevent native shrubs and herbaceous understory plants from growing. The fruits persist on the branches into the winter when birds feed on them. In the spring, it is one of the first plants to leaf out, giving it a competitive advantage. This shrub can bear fruit when it is as young as 3 to 5 years old. It is pervasive in all Ohio’s forests and is a threat to the native understory, especially ephemerals and other understory native plants crucial for wild pollinator and bee survival.

Information on how to identify, differentiate from native honeysuckle and control methods via the Ohio State University Extension’s Ohioline can be found at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/F-68.

Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Native To Eastern Asia, Japanese honeysuckle is a vine with entire (sometimes lobed), oval-oblong, opposite leaves from 1 ½ -3 inches long. It was introduced to the U.S. in 1806 as an ornamental. In Ohio, the plants are semi-evergreen with leaves persisting into late winter or early spring. The stems are usually hairy and hollow, reaching a length of 30 or more feet. Flowers are tubular, with five fused petals, white to pink, turning yellow with age, very fragrant, and occur in pairs along the stem at leaf junctures from April through June. The many-seeded black fruit is pulpy and matures in autumn.

Information on how to identify, differentiate from native honeysuckle and control methods via the Ohio State University’s weed guide can be found at https://weedguide.cfaes.osu.edu/singlerecord.asp?id=53.

Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellate)

Native To Asia and introduced to the U.S. in 1830. Introduced as an ornamental; cultivated for wildlife habitat and erosion control. Displaces native species. Autumn olive was recommended for use as an ornamental plant as well as for creating a windbreak, erosion control, wildlife habitats, and in forest restoration. Once its invasive nature was better known, it was no longer recommended for use. However, it has managed to naturalize. Many states have banned its sale. It can be found growing in disturbed sites such as meadows, grasslands, open fields, roadsides and woodlands. Eradication can be attempted by hand pulling young plants, making sure that all the roots are removed. It has sharp thorns, pale white to yellow heavily fragrant flowers, and edible red berries. It threatens native species by out-competing them and interfering with natural nutrient cycling and plant succession.

Photo courtesy of Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org

Burning (Fire) Bush (Euonymus alatus)

Burning or fire bushes are known for their neon-red fall color. This and low maintenance have made this a preferred bush for most suburban developers. However, it has escaped and is invading the woodlands of the eastern U.S., where it is recognized as an invasive species in 21 states. It is native to northeastern Asia and was introduced around 1860 as an ornamental. It reproduces by seed which is carried by birds. It will form dense thickets which crowd out native plants. Bushes can be removed by pulling small sprouts, cutting and painting stumps with a glyphosphate solution for larger bushes. It can take several years of cutting and painting to get rid of it.

More information about burning bushes can be found at https://woodyinvasives.org/woody-invasive-species/#1566235537962-9d746bd3-caac.

Photo courtesy of Arthur E. Miller, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Asian or Oriental Bittersweet (Celastraceae)

Oriental bittersweet is an invasive, deciduous woody vine native to eastern Asia and in the Celastraceae (bittersweet) family. Found primarily along forest edges, roadsides, and meadows in full sun, the plant spreads by prolific vine growth and seeds that are spread by birds, mammals, and people. It was introduced from Southeast Asia around 1860 as an ornamental vine and quickly spread across the United States. It will readily hybridize with our native bittersweet, endangering the loss of this plant. Oriental bittersweet can be difficult to manage. Cutting or pulling alone does not work because cutting stimulates the vine to re-sprout ten-fold, and any broken-off piece of root will re-grow. In the home landscape, cut the vines back to the ground and immediately treat the cut stem with herbicide. Follow the directions on the product label.

Photo courtesy of John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Japanese Privet (Oleaceae)

Japanese privet is a large evergreen shrub or small tree in the olive family and native to eastern Asia. Japanese privet is weedy in disturbed areas around buildings and has escaped and naturalized in moist areas. It grows rapidly up to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide in sun to partial shade. It is dense and upright, drought and salt spray tolerant, and grows in a range of soil conditions (except constantly wet). It flowers in late spring with four parted flowers that attract a wide array of insects but that have an odor that is offensive to many people. It has dark green foliage and is frequently planted around buildings and pruned to a "giant meatball" shape or small tree. (Information from Invasive.org).

Photo courtesy of Caleb Slemmons, National Ecological Observatory Network, Bugwood.org

Common Reed (Phragmites australis)

Phragmites are native to the U.S., but the more invasive strains originated in Europe. Invasive European strains were probably introduced during the 1800s. Means of Introduction was possibly through ships' ballast. Crowds out native species. Non-native Phragmites australis (haplotype M) is a highly invasive plant species now common in North American wetlands. This species has wide-ranging social, economic, and ecological impacts.

(Information from the Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative). View more details at https://www.greatlakesphragmites.net/