Differentiating natives from invasives. #1

12 years ago

I bought a house almost two years ago (November). When spring rolled around, I discovered the beds were full of English Ivy, Vinca (myrtle), Lily of the Vally, Lamium and Hostas. So, I'm slowly eradicating them. There is a much neglected bed on the east side of the house that is in quite deep shade, but has milkweed, cone flower, goldenrod, and some other perennial-seeming plants that I think are probably native, based on the bug activity. I am located in Grand Rapids, MI in zone 5 or 6, Lake Michigan temperature effects vary from year to year. I will post pictures of a few plants, but in separate posts, since I haven't figured out how to get more than one in a post. I'll call them Martha's number 1, 2, etc.

Thanks,

Martha

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Comments (8)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
12 years ago
Maybe Erigeron. Using the Gardenweb upload thing, you can put one pic per post, so can reply to your post with successive pics.
pinksand
12 years ago
Not positive, but that looks a lot like Boltonia Asteroides to me, which is a native :)
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docmom_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
Pinksand,
I think you are correct. Mine don't look much like the pictures at most of the sites, because they are growing in such shade and competing with the Lily of the Valley roots. Hopefully the Boltonia will fill in as I get rid of the LOV.

Thanks
Iris GW
12 years ago
Yes, I don't think it is Erigeron. It is either a boltonia or a Symphyotrichum . Regardless, I think it is native.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
12 years ago
It may be white wood aster which I think is Eurybia divaricata (formerly Aster divaricatus).
porcupineracing
12 years ago
Sorry to get all pedantic, but don't confuse "invasive" with "exotic". There are plenty of exotics that are non-invasive. There are plenty of natives that are invasive (Virginia creeper, pokeweed).
Iris GW
12 years ago
Virginia creeper and pokeweed might be "aggressive" but they do not fit the definition of "invasive" as they don't displace other plants by their presence.
porcupineracing
12 years ago
point taken.