>Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 08:40:42
>From: RONALDJ ROVANSEK
>Subject: Invasive hummer Plants

>Sheri Williamson commented on several plants
recommended for
>hummingbirds that can be invasive. I agree that
avoiding invasive species
>(and trying to eliminate those that are already in
your area) should be a
>top priority for anyone interested in birds or
nature. However, the
>invasiveness of a plant varies greatly with
climate, soils, etc., and some
>of the plants that are invasive elsewhere aren't a
problem in the
>southeast.
>
>tree tobacco (nicotiana glauca) is a widespread
weed in the southwest
>and california, but not in Louisiana or other
northern gulf states - it dies
>out in a cold winter, and I have never even seen
an escaped seedling. it
>might be invasive in central and southern Florida.
>
>eucalyptus spp. are invasive in California and
other parts of the world. In
>the southeast you'll have to protect them over
winter, and they will not
>escape to grow in the wild.
>
>leonotis nepetafolia - annual lion's ear - I have
heard that this grows wild
>in some places in Louisiana, but not to the extent
of being a concern as
>far as I know. I suspect that it needs a constant
source of seed (such as
>a nearby garden) or the colony dies out. Other
leonotis spp. - l. leonuris
>and l. menthafolia are not hardy in Louisiana.
>
>There are several common hummer plants that are
invasive in the
>southeast.
>
>lonicera japonica - japanese honeysuckle - this
vine has reached all
>parts of the southeast, northeast, maybe
elsewhere, too. it often
>dominates large areas of woodland understory or
brushy areas. This
>one is so widespread that it will never be
eliminated, and planting it in
>your garden won't introduce it to a new area, so I
don't think gardeners
>should be to concerned about growing this plant.
>
>albizzia julibrissen - mimosa or silk tree - this
plant grows wild all
over the
>south. I hear it is a real problem in florida.
Farther north is does invade
>wild areas, but doesn't seem to completely
dominate. Still, this should be
>avoided if it doesn't already occur in your area.
>
>Lantana camara - lantana - this plant seems to
invade parts of south LA,
>and I have heard it is a problem in Hawaii. If you
live in an area of zone 8
>or 9 where this doesn't occur in the wild, I would
not plant it.
>
>ipomoea coccinia - small red morning glory - this
plant can be a serious
>weed in agricultural fields. Near Baton Rouge it
takes over soy bean
>fields, and attracts Demchecks, which could
create a nuisance. I
>wouldn't plant this near agricultural fields in areas
where it doesn't
>already exist. In places like south Louisiana,
where it is everywhere
>already, I don't see that planting it could make
things any worse.
>
>There are plenty of other introduced invasive
weeds in the southeast,
>but I can't think of any others that are
hummingbird attractors.
>
>Ron Rovansek