Today, with all the travel and trade in today’s modern world population of living organisms that were once isolated in specific ranges or more narrow geographic areas are traveling around the world with the aid of man.
Some harmful examples are the proliferation of diseases, animals and insects that have decimated the native populations of our own county.
Some of these invaders are well known such as the Gypsy Moth, Dutch Elm Disease, Viburnum Leaf Beetle, the Asian fungus that destroyed the native birds and bird eggs in Hawaii.
The more recent, quite noticeable problem of today is the Emerald Ash Borer, a native to China, that is wreaking havoc on our native Ash population.
A drive through NW Ohio and Michigan is all that is needed to see the evidence of the deadly bug.
We ourselves are responsible for some of the invasive species problems we have today.
For example, the Kudzu Vine from Asia was a good idea for a ground cover for erosion control until it got to of hand choking just about everything in its path in the South.
A less obvious invasive plant is the winged euonymus, or Burning Bush, which has been planted and sold for residence and commercial properties for the last few decades.
Many eastern states have been placing the Burning Bush on an invasive species list as it seems where it is grown in the nursery fields, it is difficult if not impossible to eradicate after it has been dug.
I have noticed in the nursery growing belt east of Cleveland, Ohio that Burning Bush seems to be disappearing from the fields as some states have restrictions on this plant from out-of-state sources.
My belief is that the winged euonymus is destined for invasive species status sooner or later (probably sooner) in the State of Ohio and that growers of this plant see the writing on the wall.
There are many choices for fall color that are native plants such as Aronia (Chokeberry), Viburnum plicatum (Doublefile Viburnum) and Vaccinium (blueberries)
Many of the above natives (and more) have been overlooked and underused due to the imprint of the Burning Bush name and image on the general public’s mind.
Unfortunately, Burning Bush is still imprinted our customers minds as frequently they are not interested in native plant alternatives for fall color.
In my opinion, the above situation will change as most nursery growers are already growing less of the winged Euonymus which is lessening the supply and driving up the price of the plant.
The final death knell for the winged Euonymus in this state will be when it is branded as an invasive species and out of state shipments to Ohio are no more.
The native plants for fall color are looking better all of the time.
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