What is an invasive species?
Legally defined as an organism that is not native to the ecosystem under consideration AND whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm to the environment, economy, and/or human health.
Are all Exotic Plants Bad?
No, the majority of exotic plants do not cause problems. Most of our agricultural crops are not native to the United States . Only about 1% of introduced plant species become invasive. But… when they are bad, they are awful!
How did they get here?
Most were intentionally brought here for gardening and landscaping. Some were accidentally introduced/ transported as “hitchhikers” as global trade expanded. Most of our biggest problems have come from Asia and Europe, where climate conditions are similar.