At Wild Ones, we’re dedicated to connecting people and native plants. Our Native Plant News blog delivers the latest stories on native plant conservation, scientific discoveries, and habitat restoration from across the nation. This monthly, volunteer-written, feature is designed to educate, engage, and inspire action—empowering readers to support biodiversity and promote sustainable landscaping with native flora.
Ohio: Beware of This Toxic Invasive
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), a tall, invasive and highly poisonous plant and the infamous killer of the philosopher Socrates, is spreading through North America. Originally from Europe and North Africa, the plant was brought to the United States as an ornamental plant. A member of the carrot family, the plant can be identified by its hairless, hollow stem with purplish streaking and white flowers.
All parts of the poison hemlock contains piperidine alkaloid compounds which cause respiratory failure and death in mammals. Exposure to these toxins occurs through ingestion or through the eyes, nose, or skin injuries. The sap of this plant, while dangerous, does not cause the skin rashes or blistering that its relative, wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) can cause.
Poison Hemlock(Conium maculatum)
Wild Parsnip(Pastinaca sativa)
This invasive plant can be found in unmanaged areas such as along paths and roadways. The most effective method of control is nonselective post-emergent herbicide applications while the plant is small and another herbicide application each year to kill germinating seeds. Experts advise not to use a lawn mower to avoid contact with toxic sap. To prevent poison hemlock or other invasive non-native plant species from returning, overseed the area with native seeds.
Poison hemlock identification and prevention in your garden, yard – USA Today
Restoring the Colorado River
The Colorado River is in trouble. Once mighty, now choked with invasive salt cedar, dams, and drought, the river is now at less than 20% of the flow seen a century ago.
The Quechan people are trying to restore the river to what it once was. The tribe has successfully restored 100 acres of the original riparian ecosystem on the reservation. Their latest project, funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, Blue Commons, and Bonneville Environmental Group, is reintroducing honey mesquite (Neltuma glandulosa), Goodding’s willow (Salix gooddingii), and Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) to their newest 56-acre restoration site. Each of the native species planted holds cultural significance and uses for the tribe.
To successfully restore the site, first the phragmites and salt cedars (Tamarix ramosissima and Tamarix chinensis) must be removed. The salt cedars not only crowd out native species but take up valuable water and increase soil salinity. New, native plants are irrigated with a water-efficient dripline for 5-7 years. With these methods, the 2023 restoration site has had an 80% success rate. With the reintroduction of the native trees, other native plants have thrived. Palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) and ironwood (Olneya tesota) were planted; Endemic shrubs seepwillow (Baccharis salicifolia) return to the area on its own. Coyotes, snakes, rabbits, bobcats, and quail have also returned to the area as well as the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). Seventy percent of birds depend on the Colorado River’s riparian habitat on their migratory pathway.
Honey Mesquite(Prosopis glandulosa)
Goodding's Willow(Salix gooddingii)
Fremont Cottonwood(Populus fremontii)
Blue Paloverde(Parkinsonia florida)
Desert Ironwood(Olneya tesota)
Mule-Fat(Baccharis salicifolia)
“As long as we are taking care of the land, the land is taking care of us,” said Chase Choate, the Quechan Tribe environmental director.
‘We Are the People of the River’ – Reasons to be Cheerful
Illinois: Sourcing the Seed
How do you restore 30,000 acres with native plants when native seed can be scarce? Cook County forest preserve, in partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden, is dealing with the scarcity and expense of native seed by growing their own.
In highly degraded areas where the soil’s native seed bank is nonexistent, combating invasive species is difficult because all that bare soil left after invasive species are removed is likely to be reinvaded with invasive species. “So we’re trying to get (native) seed on the ground quickly. It’s a really critical tool in the toolbox of restoration. It’s just as important as fire, as the clearing…. It’s another critical tool that we need to help restore all of these sites in Cook County,” said Molly Marz, the Seed Amplification Program manager.
Prairie Milkweed(Asclepias sullivantii)
Foxglove Beardtongue(Penstemon digitalis)
Kidneyleaf Rosinweed(Silphium compositum var. reniforme)
Wholeleaf Rosinweed(Silphium integrifolium)
Golden Zizia(Zizia aurea)
The Seed Amplification Program’s tactics include: 1) collecting seeds from wild sources; 2) banking some seed at the Chicago Botanic Gardens; 3) planting 5,000 rare species into raised beds requiring higher maintenance; and 4) creating and planting 3,000 plants into wild seed gardens used for lower maintenance species. Species at this new seed nursery will include prairie milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii), beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum), rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium) and golden alexander (Zizia aurea). The Seed Amplification Program’s goal is to produce 2,000 pounds of seed a year by 2030, eventually reaching 6,000 pounds a year.
Pennsylvania: Trillium Time!
Trillium grandiflorum and Trillium erectum are in bloom from late April to mid-May along Roaring Run. Found in remaining old-growth forests and steep slopes, trilliums can take 5 or more years to bloom or another 4-7 years if picked. Trillium grandiflorum is slow to germinate and can live over 30 years. Trillium disperse their seeds by producing large, heavy seeds with oily casings. When the seeds drop to the ground, ants are attracted to the casings and take it back to the nest to feed their young, later discarding the seed itself.
White Trillium(Trillium grandiflorum)
Red Trillium(Trillium erectum)
Research has shown the trillium’s are experiencing a 20% reduction in spring photosynthesis due to trees leafing out earlier due to climate change. Another study has shown that Trillium grandiflorum is blooming on average 10 days earlier and Trillium erectum is blooming 11 days earlier than a century ago.
These trillium species have undergone some challenges. Development and human activity has reduced their ranges. Growing deer herds have eaten trillium and other plants. Garlic mustard, taking advantage of the decreasing native plant population due to overgrazing, has taken over with sheer numbers and allelopathic chemicals that disrupt the underground fungi the trillium rely on to absorb more water and nutrients. The trillium’s relationship with mycorrhizal fungi makes transplanting trillium difficult.
California: Native Plants and Drug Development
Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are working alongside Native Americans to grow and study California plants that have traditionally been used in medicine. Some examples include ephedra, historically used to treat syphilis, weight loss, allergies, asthma, and headaches; artemisia which was used to treat malaria, and yerba santa, being investigated for its potential used for Alzheimer’s disease. Cuttings, seeds, and plants are being sent to the Institute to further research efforts.
Dr. Ben Neiman hopes that translating these plants’ medicinal properties into clinical trials and potential pharmaceutical products will lead to the tribal nations, the plants themselves, and the natural areas that they inhabit being rewarded and protected.
Flower Strips: The More, the Merrier
Flower strips along fields have become popular in recent years as a way to attract more predatory insects to control pests as an alternative to pesticide. Are flower strips effective? Research from the University of Copenhagen confirmed that flower strips are effective when planted with 2 or more plant species. These flower strips attracted ladybirds, flower bugs, soldier beetles, hoverflies, wasps, and green lacewings which eat aphids, thrips, and spider mites as well as their eggs and larva.
“Having high species diversity is clearly beneficial. If you only have one flower species, the difference is not significant. However, with just two species, there are 70 percent more natural enemies as if there were no flowers. And the abundance of natural enemies increases by 4.1 percent for each new flower species you add,” said Nika Jachowicz, lead author of the study.
The likely reason that multispecies flower strips attract more beneficial insects is that they flower at different times and some plants may be more attractive to some species. The type of flower and certain characteristics such as open flowers with easy access to pollen and nectar is also important.
Gina Bartleson is a member of the Wild Ones Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Area (IA) Chapter.