Skip to main content

NC State Extension

Invasive Species Assessment

en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

The assessment criteria have been adopted from current available invasive assessments (Fox et al. 2005; Morse et al. 2004; Schutzki et al. 2004; and Warner et al. 2003) and modified for use in the North Carolina horticultural trade. Criteria are those that are likely to have resources and information available for a variety of species. The model is largely non-predictive and not intended to predict invasive attributes or prescreen species not currently utilized in the North Carolina horticultural trade; however, potential for further spread of existing species is considered.


Project Description

An Invasive Species Assessment System for the North Carolina Horticultural Industry was developed by Clara Trueblood as part of a Master’s Thesis project in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University.

The North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association (NCNLA) supported the development of an invasive assessment protocol designed to systematically assess the potential invasiveness of ornamental plants suspected to affect natural areas in North Carolina.

The North Carolina protocol incorporates and builds upon elements of existing assessment models to evaluate the potential invasiveness of plant species in accordance with regional environmental conditions.

The North Carolina assessment criteria are based on a framework of weighted sets of indices that evaluate and rate:

  • Ecological Impacts
  • Current Distribution and Potential for Expansion
  • Management difficulty
  • Benefit and Value

According to the combined weighted results, the model generates a recommendation for evaluated species ranging from ‘unlikely to be invasive’ to ‘invasive and not recommended for use.’

The assessment model incorporates a unique cost/benefit analysis and weighs economic benefits against the ecological risk of selling potentially invasive ornamental plants (Economic Impact Analysis).

The assessment protocol was used to evaluate the invasiveness of 25 nonnative taxa (Summary of Assessment Results).

By modifying the criteria utilized in existing assessments and tailoring the model for the North Carolina horticultural trade, we have created an assessment system unique to the nursery industry that may be completed using resources available in North Carolina.

The assessment results are intended to allow the NCNLA to advise their members regarding plants that are purported to be invasive.

For additional background information, please see the Project Scope and Justification.


Detailed Species Results

The invasive species assessment system for the North Carolina nursery industry provides detailed species evaluations and associated assessment points.

Highly Invasive Species
Vitex rotundifolia (Beach vitex) 81
Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle) 75
Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet) 71
Moderately Weedy Species
Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet) 66
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry) 61
Hedera helix (English ivy) 49
Pyrus calleryana (Callery pear) 43
Mahonia bealei (Leatherleaf mahonia) 42
Euonymus alatus (Burning bush) 41
Wisteria floribunda and/or W. sinensis(Japanese and/or Chinese wisteria) 37
Nandina domestica (Nandina, Heavenly bamboo) 35
Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet) 34
Noninvasive Species
Elaeagnus pungens and Elaeagnus x ebbingei (Thorny elaeagnus) 33
Spiraea japonica and/or S. x bumalda (Japanese spiraea) 33
Albizia julibrissin (Mimosa) 31
Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese elm, Lacebark elm) 31
Buddleja davidii (Butterfly-bush) 26
Vinca minor (Common periwinkle) 26
Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese silvergrass) 18
Magnolia stellata (Star magnolia) 12
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo, Maidenhair tree) 4
Styrax japonicas (Japanese snowbell) 4
Camellia japonica (Camellia) -1
Evergreen azaleas -2
Ophiopogon japonicus and Liriope species (Mondo grass, lily turf, liriope) -5

Resources

Literature Databases

Journals

Current Federal and State Regulations

Ecological Impact

Distribution and Potential for Expansion

General Resources

(Ecological Impact, Distribution, and/or Management Difficulty)

Assessment Systems