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Acadia National Park
Invasive Plant Identification
Wondering if you have invasive plants in your Mount Desert Island yard? Here’s how to identify and remove key invasive species from your property.
Glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus)
Typically found in forests and wetlands, this woody shrub was first introduced as a landscape plant. They have green to brown bark, simple, alternate leaves, small white five-petaled flowers, and berries that darken throughout the summer.
Learn MoreJapanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
This thorny shrub is often planted as a hedgerow but has spread to forests, forest edges, fields, and disturbed areas. They have small, pale yellow flowers and red, oblong berries. Their simple, alternate leaves turn red in fall. Unlike common barberry, Japanese barberry has single thorns that alternate along their stems.
Learn MoreMorrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)
This ornamental shrub thrives in a wide range of landscapes and soil types. They have opposite branched stems and simple opposite leaves. Their flowers are white, yellow, or pink and upturned, while Maine native honeysuckles have pairs of drooping, funnel-shaped yellow flowers. Invasive honeysuckle twigs have a hollow interior (pith), while native honeysuckle twigs are solid.
Learn Moreburning bush/winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
This popular ornamental shrub is found in forests, forest edges, and open areas. They have small light green flowers in spring and red fruits framed by purple coverings in fall. Their simple opposite leaves turn bright red in fall. Their square, green, twigs often display corky “wings."
Lean MoreAsiatic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
This woody vine was introduced as an ornamental plant. Bittersweet has small green five-petaled flowers in spring and yellow seeds that mature in the fall to reveal bright red arils. They have simple, alternate leaves with toothed edges.
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