Non-Native Invasives

⚠️ AVOID these at all costs

Cut, pull, or dig them out — NOW!

Identification: Native vs Invasive Look-Alikes

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) - an invasive lookalike
Black Chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa
Photo by FritzFlohrReynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0
Possumhaw Holly (Ilex Decidua) - native alternative
Possumhaw Holly
Ilex Decidua — NATIVE
Photo by En el nido (Nest), CC BY 3.0
Mother Fern (Adiantum pedatum) - native species
Mother Fern
Adiantum pedatum — NATIVE
Photo by Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0
Comparison of invasive and native plants side by side
Invasive and native comparison

What to Do

1. Identify

Use the resources above to learn which plants in your area are invasive. Pay special attention to species that look like natives but aren't.

2. Remove

Cut, pull, or dig out invasive plants. The sooner, the better. Dispose of plant material properly — don't compost invasives that spread by seeds.

3. Replace with Natives

After removing invasives, plant native species that fill the same ecological niche. See our home page for nursery recommendations and plant guides.

Have invasive plant resources or corrections to share?

Email Ken