Often one can justify a negative aspect of something because of some perceived benefit it may offer. When it comes to an invasive plant, we should never make that mistake. Invasives have been determined by scientific evaluation to be harmful in a way that is detrimental to the environment and/or detrimental to human health.

In autumn, we marvel at the spectacular colors provided by our native trees and shrubs. Many home landscapes also include non-native ornamental trees and shrubs. Unfortunately, some have escaped cultivation and are wreaking havoc with our environment. Burning bush is one such plant, widely planted for its bright red fall color. Burning bush, Euonymus alatus, also known as winged euonymus, is a deciduous shrub native to Eastern China. It has corky wing-like stems and can grow up to 15 feet tall. Burning bush is considered an exotic invasive plant because it has invaded wooded areas, especially hardwood forests, forming dense thickets to outcompete and displace native species, aided by its extremely dense and complex root system.

Invasive plants that produce fruits must be dealt with during the summer months before their fruits ripen. Otherwise, birds and other animals will spread the seeded berries into new areas, sometimes over great distances. The territory of an overwintering bird like our Northern Cardinal can be up to ten acres. Of course, birds that migrate in fall will spread seeds much farther. The issue with invasive plants is that they are displacing native vegetation essential for many wildlife species. Fruit-bearing invasives of concern include Japanese Barberry, Burning Bush, Autumn Olive, Mile-a-Minute vine, Wineberry, Porcelainberry and Oriental Bittersweet vine.