invasive

Invasive Trees to Avoid Planting

Dan This Land of Ours

invasive

Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)

Over this series, Cathy Isom has spoke about plants that are pretty, those that are edible, as well as those that are invasive. Today, in This Land of Ours, she discusses invasive trees to avoid planting.

Invasive Trees to Avoid Planting

A European maple tree, which looks like other maple trees, is very attractive and handles stress well. The problem with this quick-growing maple is that it outpaces other forest flora and reduces other plant’s access to light.

Another maple variety to watch out for is the sycamore maple. It’s known to grow up to 60 feet tall and produces impressive amount of seeds that can quickly cover the ground and suffocate other plants. It’s best to stay clear of the European and sycamore maple trees and pick a different maple species for your yard, preferably one that grows native in your area.

You’ll also want to avoid planting the white poplar. While it is a pretty tree that features leaves with white undersides, and grows very tall, it is also a very aggressive plant that outcompetes other trees. There are other poplar varieties to choose from.

Image credit: By Willow – Own work, CC BY 2.5, Link