These three maples have somewhat similar-looking leaves. On the surface, you may think this is simply an academic exercise. But if you care about invasive plants and local ecology, this distinction is an important one. Norway maple is an invasive tree species, while sugar and black maples are native tree species (sometimes called hard maples).[Read More…]
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invasive
Recently, there has been an uptick in questions related to one of Indiana’s most notorious invasive pests: the emerald ash borer. Homeowners, businesses, even professionals have asked if ash trees are still present in Indiana, and if the insect is still a threat to our ecosystem. Emerald ash borer wreaked significant havoc among Indiana’s hardwoods,[Read More…]
During a nursery inspection in Owen County in 2024, I noticed an unusual yellowing of the leaves on some American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) trees (Fig 1). A look at the underside of the leaves revealed yellow-orange pustules, suggesting a rust fungus. After help from the Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Lab, this fungal pathogen was[Read More…]
Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) is an extremely invasive plant that is a serious problem in most areas of the Midwest. These invasive plants grow very fast, especially along woodland edges, and shade out most of the understory plants that are found in these areas. Honeysuckle can also significantly reduce the available browse for deer[Read More…]
The Invasive Terrestrial Plant Rule was signed by Governor Holcomb and published on March 18, 2019. The rule goes into effect 30 days after publishing, so it will be effective later in April. The rule states with respect to the 44 plant species included on the rule: “a person must not: (1) Sell, offer or[Read More…]
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