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Mountain LaurelIndian Grass

Side oats GramaBuffalo GrassChinkapin OakAutumn SageTurk’s CapPickerelWeedYaupon

Yellow Bells (Esparanza)Cardinal FlowerBig Muhly

Mexican Feather GrassColumbine

Coral HoneysuckleNative Salvia species

White Limestone HoneysuckleBlue MistflowerCoral BerryFlame AcanthusRedbud treesAgarita

Virginia CreeperMexican Plum

Japanese HoneysuckleBamboo

Chinese TallowChinaberryPyracantha

Wax-leaf Ligustrum (Privet)Water HyacinthWater LettuceWater SpinachSalviniaSalt CedarGiant CaneAsian JasmineEleagnus

Cryptocoryne becketti

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE

TheDangers ofInvasiveSpecies

For More Information

Texas Parks andWildlife DepartmentInland Fisheries

4200 Smith School Road,Austin,TX 78744www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/environconcerns/nuisance_plants/

TexasWildscapes4200 Smith School Road,Austin,TX 78744

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/wildscapes

Native Plant Society of Texaswww.npsot.org/

The Nature ConservancyInvasive Species Initiativehttp://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/

Lady Bird JohnsonWildflower Center4801 LaCrosse Avenue,Austin,TX 78739

www.wildflower.org/

www.texasinvasives.org/

www.invasive.org/

©2011 Texas Parks andWildlife Department

4200 Smith School RoadAustin,Texas 78744(800) 792-1112www.tpwd.state.tx.us

PWD BRW7000-942 (9/11)

You will want to ensure the plants selected are native to your area.

Wax-leaf Ligustrum (Privet) Chinese Tallow Japanese Honeysuckle

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Some Common ExoticsTo AvoidGood Native Plant Choices

TPWD receives federal assistance from the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and other federal agencies.TPWD istherefore subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,TitleII of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975,Title IX of the EducationAmendments of 1972, in addition to state anti-discrimination laws.TPWD will comply with state and federallaws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that youhave been discriminated against in any TPWD program, activity or event, you may contact the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, Division of Federal Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP-4020, Arlington, VA22203, Attention: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Access.

This plant list is only a recommendation andhas no legal effect in the state of Texas. It islawful to sell, distribute, import, or possess aplant on this list unless the Texas Departmentof Agriculture labels the plant as noxious orinvasive on the department’s plant list.

1 8 0 e o f g ; n Q E P A S 8 0 e o f g

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“What harm can there be in plantingone plant in my backyard? I’m goingto care for it. There is a very smallarea for it to grow in and it needs mycare to survive” — or does it?

Many exotic species get introduced just this easilyand become significant environmental problems as aresult. Others are flushed down the storm drain,thrown in the compost pile or released on the sideof the road daily. But what is the real problem?

These species, usually brought from an exoticlocation and protected in our care until we tire ofthem, are introduced to a spot where they have nopredators or disease control and quickly reproducein an area of unchecked growth. They begin tocompete with native species that require similarhabitat niches and that may be in limited supply.The native species is often at a disadvantagebecause it is having to deal with diseases, parasitesand predators that the exotic is currently notimpacted by. As a result, the exotic thrives andthe native declines.

What Else CanYouTell Me?

Exotic invasive species have been responsible forchanging the water flow and quality of lakes, chang-ing the nature and quality of terrestrial habitats andhave contributed to the decline of certain nativespecies – some of which are very rare.

For Instance:The Chinese Tallow, introduced in Central Texas as alandscape plant to provide fall color has become athreat to the coastal prairie. It has changed thousandsof acres of prairie habitat into tallow forests, remov-ing much needed nesting and shelter habitat for theendangered Attwater Prairie Chicken, and otherspecies of concern in the process.

Salt Cedar, introduced as an effective wind breakand stream bank stabilizer in much ofWest Texas,has proven to be a water hog, thriving along theRio Grande and other significant waterways at theexpense of water no longer available down stream.It has also choked out several native species,producing a dense growth the sun cannot penetrate.

Aquatic invasives have resulted in millions of dollarsbeing spent to reclaim lakes and maintain fish habitatand restore wetlands to allow fishing, boating andother activities we enjoy.

These invasions are not without impact in otherareas. Funds are diverted from needed research andmanagement programs to remove and control thesepests. Research, personnel and funding is lost toprojects, management programs and native speciesrestoration.

Water quality is a major issue in Texas. Wetlandsare significant in maintaining water quality by filteringstorm runoff and controlling inundation. Many inva-sive species have demonstrated a direct threat towater quality by changing the nature of wetlands,drying them out and creating an upland situation.

Native plant, animal and insect species worktogether in a natural harmony controlling excessivedevelopment of any one species at the expense ofanother. This makes these species a better choicefor our landscaping and other purposes.

Native plants will cost us less, generally they useless water, are more adapted to the region and sorequire fewer pesticides. They use their naturalresources better, resulting in less fertilization needs.They are less likely to result in huge expendituresrelated to controlling or mitigating damages result-ing from their use.

Native species are the optimum choice forwildlife habitat restoration or enhancement.While birds will eat berries from China berry orChinese tallow, there is no evidence these berriesprovide their nutritional needs and plenty of evi-dence that the seeds transplanted by the birdsdegrade the habitat for other species.

Spring Lake before invasives removal.

Ligustrum chokes out native grasses in Austin.

Effects of Salt Cedar. This is what remains of the river.

The Dangers of Invasive SpeciesYour Role in

Environmental Stewardship.

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