With the holidays approaching, New England Wild Flower Society, America's oldest plant conservation organization reminds the public to avoid using invasive plants in holiday décorations. Tom Smarr, Director of Horticulture, points out the Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) that are dangerous to ecosystems in many regions. "Even though these plants may seem attractive, and some people would like to use them in dried flower arrangements, New England Wild Flower Society urges you to avoid them. Too often birds carry the fruits right off wreaths and garlands, or the fruits end up in landfills where they resprout. These plants create severe environmental damage in many parts of the country. They invade open fields, forests, wetlands, meadows, and even your own backyard, aggressively killing off whatever plants are nearby. Bittersweet can even kill mature trees. Both plants are extremely difficult to control-when they are cut off they quickly resprout." Even though you may still see them for sale, because they are so dangerous to natural habitats, it is now actually illegal to sell bittersweet and multiflora rose in any form (plants or prunings) in the state of Massachusetts. For the Massachusetts prohibited plant list visit :http://www.mass.gov/agr/farmproducts/proposed_prohibited_plant_list_v12-12-05.htm.
Find invasive plant lists of other states at the conservation pages at www.newenglandwild.org or at your local native plant society.
In the spirit of the holiday season, the New England Wild Flower Society urges you to select decorations that will consider the health of the earth as well as a pretty appearance. There are so many other beautiful choices that are fun to use and great for design, like winterberry, the evergreen American holly, pine and spruce boughs, cranberries, blueberry twigs, dried flower pods, dried ornamental grasses, pine cones, and more. For a list of suggestions, visit the FAQ page at the Society’s website at www.newenglandwild.org.
The New England Wild Flower Society is headquartered at Garden in the Woods-a 45-acre living museum with over 1500 kinds of native plants of America,180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, Massachusetts. The Museum Store is open Thursday-Monday, 10-5 through December 24. Profits from all sales support plant conservation. Phone 508-877-7630. www.newenglandwild.org.
Image of invasive oriental bittersweet courtesy of New England WIld Flower Society/John Lynch
Great native plant info! thanks for sharing. Chuck
Posted by: chuck osgood | December 06, 2007 at 06:38 PM