Many people are irresistibly drawn to green spaces. Whether itâs âforest bathingâ in wooded areas, marveling at manicured gardens, or crawling along home flower beds weeding and dead-heading, there are countless botanical wonders to behold. But all too often there is a sinister threat to these bucolic scenes: non-native invasive species.
According to LandScope America, over 285 invasive plant species are impacting Pennsylvania, threatening natural habitats and potentially causing harm to wildlife, economies and human health. Invasive plants reproduce rapidly, outcompete native species for resources, and have few if any natural controls to keep their populations down.
Often, these plants are less nutritious (or noxious) for animals, altering the food web and starving out the locals. Perhaps most vexing is that people continue to aid and abet these alien species by choosing plants based on their aesthetic appeal and growth habit regardless of where they came from.