Re: Chicago Bans Invasive Plants

**"* <d*@comcast.net>**

Thanks for the link.

It's interesting that some plants that were highly promoted by the USDA or 
CES here in Georgia are on the list. Sawtooth Oak and Paulownia are among 
them.

I'm waiting for Crapemyrtles to get on the list. They never used to be a 
problem, but 'Natchez' seems to be a great seed parent. I'm seeing crosses 
and 'Natchez' look-alikes all over here.

d

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jo ellen meyers sharp" <hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net>
To: "Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum" 
<gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: [GWL] Chicago Bans Invasive Plants

> Here's what I have from a few months back w/links. Plants listed at 
> bottom.
>
> http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=125281&print=1
>
>
> Chicago bans 14 plants to protect local flora
> by
> <http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/authorprofile.aspx?id=117677>Charles
> Berret
> April 08, 2009
> The City of Chicago Tuesday banned 14 plants as "invasive species"
> that threaten native plant life.
>
> The Chicago Department of Environment will now prosecute sellers and
> hobbyists alike who import, sell or possess oriental bittersweet,
> Japanese hops and princess trees, among others. Privet, a common
> shrub that can be found even in Grant Park, also made the list.
>
> These 14 plants will join the list of restricted flora and fauna
> established in Chicago's Invasive Species Regulations of May 2007.
>
> "Invasive species cause great harm to our environment," said Kay
> Havens, director of plant science and conservation at the Chicago
> Botanic Garden. "And when they have been demonstrated to do so in our
> region, regulation becomes necessary."
>
> According to the agency, invasive plants are those that are not
> prevalent in an area, but threaten to alter the native ecology and
> overrun native species in competition for resources.
>
> Havens, who was on the panel that selected the invasive species list,
> said that one of the most problematic invasive species in the Chicago
> area is buckthorn, but garlic mustard, Canada thistle and teasel have
> already proven harmful.
>
> "There have been cases in the past where other plants from different
> areas of the world have been major pests," said Steve Meyer, a
> horticulturalist at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. "They compete for
> food, light and water."
>
> Global climate change makes an ecosystem particularly vulnerable to
> invasive species because new flora could be better suited to
> Chicago's milder winters and hotter summers.
>
> "Many invasive species thrive under disturbance," said Havens "They
> do better under global climate change because ecosystems become
> unstable."
>
> Meyer noted that the label "invasive" is relative to the region where
> that plant is growing. "Any plant can become a weed in a certain part
> of the world," Meyer said. He noted that water hyacinth, native to
> South America, now proliferates in Florida to the extent that it
> clogs waterways.
>
> Businesses caught selling invasive species in Chicago face a fine of
> between $1000 and $5000, while a private grower can be charged
> between $100 and $500.
>
>
> (c) Section 11-4-3000(f)
> Water chestnut (Trapa natans)
> Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa)
> Greater spearwort (Ranunculus lingua)
> Chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata)
> Parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
> Hydrilla or water thyme (Hydrilla verticillata)
> Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
> Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)
> Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
> European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)
> Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)
>
> (d) Section 11-4-3000(f) - includes any of the following, unless a
> person provides written evidence, such as a scientific publication,
> to demonstrate that the horticultural selection of the plant has been
> proven by the scientific community to be functionally sterile.
>
> Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata)
> Porcelainberry vine (Ampelopsis brevipendiculata)
> Wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris)
> Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
> Japanese hops (Humulus japonicus)
> Lyme grass (Leymus aernarius)
> Privet (Ligustrum)
> Amur silver grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus)
> Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
> Amur corktree (Phellodendron amurense)
> Japanese corktree (Phellodendron japonica)
> Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
> Sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima)
> Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)
>
> -- 
> Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
> The Hoosier Gardener
> Director Garden Writers Association
> Writer * Editor * Speaker * Garden Consultant
> Co-author,The Indiana Gardener's Guide
> Editor, Indiana Living Green magazine
> P.O. Box 20310, Indianapolis, IN 46220
> E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
> http://www.hoosiergardener.com
> http://www.IndianaLivingGreen.com
> E-mail: editor@IndianaLivingGreen.com
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