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Long Island's Most Invasive Plant Species
What is an invasive plant?
Invasive plants are species that take over habitats and push out native plants. These plants aren’t from Long Island — they were brought here from other parts of the world and now grow without natural predators or diseases to keep them in check. As they spread, they reduce the number of native plants that birds rely on for food, shelter, and nesting, making it harder for many bird species to survive.
If you spot invasive plants growing around your home, it’s best to remove them before they take over your yard or spread further. Knowing how to recognize these plants and avoiding them in your garden helps prevent them from escaping into nearby natural areas. Once they spread, they can disrupt local ecosystems and cause harm to native species.
Tips for Identifying Invasive Plants
iNaturalist's Seek
The iNaturalist’s app “Seek” uses AI to accurately identify plants with images. Just scan the plant and the app will tell you exactly what it is!
Habitat Clues
Typically, leaves appear earlier and stay green later than nearby natives. Flowers and fruits may also persist when others have faded.
Seasonal Clues
Typically, leaves appear earlier and stay green later than nearby natives. Flowers and fruits may also persist when others have faded.
Behavioral Clues
Invasives spread rapidly, forming dense thickets or mats, outcompeting or shading out native plants.
How do invasive plants impact birds?
Fewer native insects = less food for birds.
Invasive plants don’t support native insects like caterpillars, leaving birds with less to eat.
Poor nesting and shelter.
Dense invasive shrubs can make nests more visible to predators and offer poor shelter.
Changes in fruit quality and timing.
Many invasive berries are less nutritious and ripen at the wrong time for migrating birds.
Loss of native plant diversity.
When invasives take over, they reduce the native plants birds need for food, nesting, and shelter.
Common Invasive Plants
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
Porcelain Berry
Habitat: Forest edges, fences, roadsides.
Impact: Smothers native shrubs & trees; forms dense tangles.
Spread: Bird-dispersed seeds.
Removal: Dig roots or cut vines at base, and monitor for re-sprouts.
Celastrus orbiculatus
Oriental Bittersweet
Habitat: Open fields, forest edges, fences.
Impact: Strangles trees and shrubs; climbs into canopy, shading & breaking branches.
Spread: Bird-dispersed seeds.
Removal: Dig roots or cut vines at base, and monitor for re-sprouts.
Wisteria sinensis/floribunda
Chinese/Japanese Wisteria
Habitat: Forest edges, fences, trellises.
Impact: Twines around trees & shrubs; shades & damage trunks.
Spread: Seeds & suckering stems
Removal: Hand-pull seedlings; cut vines from trees; repeated monitoring required.
Artemisia vulgaris
Mugwort
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, forest edges.
Impact: Grows thick patches & releases chemicals that stop other plants from growing.
Spread: Underground roots.
Removal: Repeated digging or smothering over several seasons.
Rosa multiflora
Multiflora Rose
Habitat: Old fields, forest edges, roadsides.
Impact: Forms dense thickets that shade out native shrubs and ground covers.
Spread: Bird-dispersed seeds.
Removal: Dig roots or repeatedly cut and smother.
Lonicera maackii/morrowii/tatarica/bella
Bush Honeysuckles
Habitat: Forest edges, understories, disturbed soils.
Impact: Shade out native spring plants.
Spread: Bird-dispersed seeds, root crowns re-sprout after cutting.
Removal: Dig entire root system or repeat cutting.
Acer platanoides
Norway Maple
Habitat: Forest edges, fences, trellises.
Impact: Twines around trees & shrubs; shades & damage trunks.
Spread: Seeds & suckering stems
Removal: Hand-pull seedlings; cut vines from trees; repeated monitoring required.
Ailanthus altissima
Tree of Heaven
Habitat: Roadsides, forest edges.
Impact: Releases toxins into soil; alters forest composition.
Spread: Wind-dispersed seeds & root suckers.
Removal: Seedlings: hand-pull; mature trees: cut stump & treat with herbicide.
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