Invasive species are plants, fungi, or animals that are not native to an environment, and have a tendency to spread to a degree causing damage to the environment, human economy and human health. These species have the ability to thrive and spread aggressively, and can take over a majority of the Arboretum, if proper control and treatment isn’t implemented.

The Arboretum is home to many invasive species including:

• Japanese Knotweed
• Garlic Mustard
• Oriental Bittersweet
• Multiflora Rose
• Buckthorn
• Autumn Olive
• Japanese Honeysuckle

Student trail crews, classes and volunteers work to control Japanese Knotweed, Garlic Mustard, Oriental Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose. The amount of Japanese Knotweed in the Arb has decreased significantly in recent years due to the hard work of students and volunteers! We are still working on controlling Oriental Bittersweet (it is found almost everywhere along the Old Field and Meadow Run trails). In the spring we focus on removing Garlic Mustard! If you see our Garlic Mustard trash bins, please feel free to pull up Garlic Mustard and dispose in the bins.