Publications by Series: Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series
FOR-179: Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Autumn Olive
Ellen Crocker, Jacob Muller, Joseph Omielan | August 14, 2025 (New)
Autumn olive was introduced from Asia in the 1800s and was promoted for many years for erosion control, as a windbreak, and to create wildlife habitat. Since that time, autumn olive has invaded much of eastern North America. While it is most problematic on reclaimed mining sites, it can colonize a diverse range of habitats including closed canopy forests.
FOR-180: Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Wintercreeper
August 14, 2025 (New)
Wintercreeper was introduced from China in the early 1900s as an ornamental plant, valued for its evergreen leaves and vigorous growth. Unfortunately, it easily escapes the confines of the garden and outcompetes native vegetation for space, light, nutrients, and moisture in woodland settings. Once established, wintercreeper can be hard to eradicate and management of small patches is much easier than waiting until the infestation has spread.
FOR-175: Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Bush Honeysuckle
John Cox, Ellen Crocker, Jacob Muller, Jeff Stringer, Billy Thomas | October 31, 2023 (New)
Several species of Asian bush honeysuckle in the genus Lonicera are invasive in North America. The most common invasive bush honeysuckle species in Kentucky is the Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) but other invasive honeysuckle species include L. morrowii, L. tatarica, L. x bella. These species, originally native to China, Korea and parts of Japan, were introduced to the U.S. as far back as the late 1800s and were promoted for conservation and wildlife uses in the 1960s and 1970s. Unfortunately, bush honeysuckles are still popular ornamental plants despite easily escaping into natural areas. The negative impact of dense stands of these species and the ease in which they can escape cultivation is a major concern across the region.
