Newsletter May 2012

ALIEN INVADERS

We’re talking plants here.

In conserving our native plant heritage DCA attempts, on the land it manages, to control the non-native plants that are likely to multiply and spread.

There are many plants of concern. Among them are Holly, English Ivy, Daphne Laurel and Broom. We don’t like Broom as it is a serious threat to Gary Oak meadows (and on Tree Island), but generally it is not a threat in our forests. Once the trees grow up, they shade out the Broom effectively.

Fall and winter is a good time to work on ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, so we will address them then. Right now is the time to deal with Daphne Laurel as it is in flower and the resulting seeds will be spread by birds.

Daphne Laurel, also known as Spurge laurel, is a shrub up to 4 feet tall and has shiny, entire (unsegmented) leaves. The flowers, which appear from late February to April, are a yellowish green. The berries are initially green, then black. They mature in early summer.

Daphne Laurel is a nasty customer. Its leaves and especially its seeds are toxic and some people can get a skin reaction by simply handling the leaves. It’s also sneaky, volunteering in our gardens (birds again), and posing as an innocuous, modest, well-dressed shrub with tidy, glossy leaves.

If allowed to propagate within our forests Daphne Laurel will out-compete the native ground covers such as Oregon grape, perhaps because of its toxic weaponry.

First year plants can be pulled by (gloved) hand until their stems reach pencil thickness.  Older shrubs must be cut off below ground or the stump will re-sprout. Bypass loppers can be used for this. Generally the least ground disturbance in dealing with this plant is best. Disturbance will result in seeds in the soil sprouting and there will be more plants to pull next year.

DCA is trying to control Daphne Laurel where it occurs on land we manage, notably in Morrison Marsh.