May 20, 2022
Learn about Native and Invasive Plants on the Garden Tour
In less then a month, the 2022 "Pathways and Blooms" South Windsor Garden Tour and Plant Sale will occur, and this year Nowashe Village is a stop on the tour. The village features an array of native plants, flowers, vegetables and trees vital to the survival of the area's first peoples. Nowashe is home to a variety of trees, including Black Walnut, Staghorn Sumac, Witch Hazel and Elderberry, and an annually planted traditional Three Sisters Garden.
As an educational tool, there are QR codes scattered throughout the village identifying plants and trees, both native, and the invasive ones we are in the process of eradicating. Nowashe Village is also a Certified Wildlife Habitat through The National Wildlife Federation.
This Musing focuses on three of the invasive plant species that are identified in Nowashe. To learn more about invasive plants in the area, contact the South Windsor Invasive Plants Working Group. They are dedicated to spreading the awareness of invasive species and removal techniques. They host hands-on work parties and provide educational outreach to the community.
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Invasive Species Highlighted in Nowashe Village
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Greater Celandine
Chelidonium majus
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Greater celandine is a member of the poppy family, native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. In the United States, it is considered a weed and often grows in damp areas or along roadsides. Interestingly, for thousands of years in places such as Ancient Rome it was believed to cure poor eyesight, and in Chinese herbal tradition, greater celandine was used to treat bronchitis, whooping cough and asthma.
Greater celandine can be easily confused with both lesser celandine (an invasive species in the buttercup family), the celandine poppy (a perennial garden favorite south and west of Connecticut), and the marsh marigold (a member of the buttercup family, native to the northeast). |
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Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
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Garlic mustard is an invasive species that was originally brought to the United States for erosion control in the 1800s. It is edible as an herb when young and treated properly.
As an early spring plant, garlic mustard quickly blocks sunlight from reaching other native plants or tree seedlings. It is fast to appear and multiply, with only a two-year lifecycle. In the first year, the growth is only a small carpet of round, green leaves. Each individual plant can contain up to 700 seeds, which can be dispersed even when cut. Therefore, the best way to remove it is to pull it out early by its roots, bag it and place it in the trash. |
Japanese Knotweed
Reynoutria japonica
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Japanese Knotweed is an extremely fast growing invasive herbaceous plant. Native to Asia, it was first brought to the United States in the late 1800’s for ornamental and horticultural purposes. It quickly became popular in the nursery trade and has been planted in landscapes throughout North America. It’s found in every state except North Dakota, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida and Hawaii. Knotweed was also planted for erosion control and as a forage crop; little did they know at the time how damaging these practices would be. Unfortunately, it crowds out native species and can grow at a rate of up to 8 centimeters a day in the spring.
Knotweed is hard to eradicate and removal is usually a slow process. After being dug up and cut into pieces it should be allowed to dry out in the sun before disposal and never composted. Knotweed should not be mowed, as mowing can actually help it spread. Smothering it is another option, using heavy black plastic or weed fabric. |
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