Be Aware of Invasive Plants
By Marilyn Shy, Kalkaska Conservation District
About a month ago, I happened to glance at the riverbank on my property, and then took a second look. Something was not quite right. There was a viney plant that was choking out some of the other vegetation, and the more I looked, the more I could see that this plant was going to be a problem.
I began to suspect that the plant I was looking at was a non-native, invasive plant species. You may have heard about some of the problems caused by invasive species. They often have no natural predators or other ecological controls to keep them in check. As a result, they can displace the native species that provide benefits to the environment, such as food and habitat for wildlife.
After some research, I determined that my problem plant was Oriental Bittersweet, also called Asiatic Bittersweet. A bit more research led me to someone who could help me control this plant: CAKE CISMA.
CAKE CISMA stands for Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska, and Emmet Counties Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. It was established in 2015 to help manage invasive species in our 4-county area. CAKE CISMA works directly with 30+ partners and members of local environmental organizations. It is funded through grants from the Great Lakes Restoration InitiativeInvasive Species Grant Program, the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, as well as local grants and private donations.
I was somewhat surprised to find that Asiatic Bittersweet was on CAKE’s Top 5 Most Unwanted Invasive Plant List! The top 5 were chosen because they are harmful to our local ecosystems, yet not so widespread that they can’t be managed. If a landowner in any of CAKE’s four counties finds one of these species on his or her property, a staff person can recommend treatment options or come out on a free site visit. In 2022, free treatments for private property owners were available due to special grant money that was available. This service might continue in the future depending on the availability of grant funding.
In case you were wondering about the other plants on the Top 5 Most Unwanted List, they are Black Swallow-Wort (roots toxic to mammals, plants toxic to many insect larvae including monarch caterpillars); purple loosestrife (can result in a monoculture in wetlands that reduce habitat value and function for wildlife); phragmites (obstructs views and can reduce native fish and wildlife populations); and Japanese knotweed (grows aggressively and has been known to crack building foundations, excludes native plants and is incredibly difficult to get rid of).
I found I was able to sign a digital consent form on CAKE’s website, and a staff member came out to look at the problem plant. On a subsequent visit, a crew came to map out the Asiatic bittersweet, and soon a crew will come to chemically treat the plant and hopefully take care of the problem. Having worked on controlling other invasive species, I realize that one treatment is often not enough to fully eradicate. Most often, it will take several years of treatment before satisfactory results are achieved. I am committed to whatever efforts it will take on my part in the future to get this plant under control on my property.
If you think you have one of the Top 5 Most Unwanted Plants on your property, or to learn more about CAKE and its work in controlling invasives in Northern Michigan, visit their website at: www.cakecisma.org.
This invasive Bittersweet chokes out native plants and can girdle mature trees.
**In addition CAKE CISMA was required to file for a permit from EGLE to treat this species due to its proximity to water.