What's The Issue?

Specialized relationships exist between plants, animals, pollinators, and other insects. For example, native birds like the chickadee, rely on caterpillars to rear their young while native plants support the life cycle of caterpillars. Monarch butterflies need native milkweed to complete their lifecycle, without milkweed, monarch larvae die. 

Invasive species threaten native plants and wildlife by altering the natural habitats on which native species depend. Of particular concern for pollinators are invasive black and pale swallow-worts. These vining plants smother out native vegetation and take over habitats in which native milkweed and other pollinator-loving plants grow. Being in the milkweed family, monarchs can mistakenly lay their eggs on swallow-wort. Monarch larvae that hatch on swallow-wort plants will not survive. Given that monarch butterflies have recently been named an endangered species, the impacts caused by swallow-wort are even more threatening to their survival. 

What Can Be Done?

  • Grow native plant species in your garden. Choosing to grow native plants supports pollinators because native plants have co-evolved with pollinators and other native wildlife over time. 
  • Learn to recognize and manage invasive species found in your garden or on your property.

View a list of native plant species and discover native plants ranked by the number of butterfly and moth species that use them as host plants for their caterpillars using two resources from the Garden Protector’s Toolbox featured below.

Garden Protector's Tools

View this list of flowers, grasses, shrubs, trees, and vines native to New York State. developed by the NYS DEC. 

View Native Plant List

Discover native plants, ranked by the number of butterfly and moth species that use them as host plants for their caterpillars.

Native Plant Finder

Invasive Species To Watch For

Black and pale swallow-wort are two invasive plants that threaten one of the most adorned pollinators, the monarch butterfly which has recently been named an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and featured in an article by the National Geographic. 

Identifying Pale and Black Swallow-wort 
Learn More About Swallow-wort
Swallow-wort Management Options
Prevention: Once established, swallow-wort is difficult to control. Monitor for populations in late summer, when the pods are present but not open. Stay out of infested areas during seed dispersal to prevent seed dissemination to unaffected areas. Likewise, clean your boots, ATVs, and other equipment when coming out of infested areas.
 
Initial control efforts should concentrate on plants in sunny areas since they will produce the most seeds.
 
Physical/Mechanical Control: Small patches can be dug out by hand. The entire plant must be removed and destroyed. To prevent seed dispersal, pods should be removed before they open and then burned. Large stands can be managed by consistent mowing when pods are very small (May-July). Controlled burning is not effective and may improve site conditions for swallow-wort seedling establishment.
 
Chemical Control: Triclopyr or glyphosate can be applied to foliage prior to seed set typically in late June to mid-July for the northern New York region. The use of surfactants helps herbicides penetrate the waxy leaf coating. Be sure to follow all instructions on chemical labels.
Other Invasives To Watch Out For In Your Garden
Wild Parsnip
A noxious invasive weed that can can burn and blister the skin.
Learn More
Jumping Worm
An invasive worm that reduces soil nutrients and alters forested ecosystems.
Learn More
Common Buckthorn
An invasive shrub-like tree that replaces desirable tree species and other vegetation.
Learn More
Oriential Bittersweet
An invasive woody vine that girdles trees and smothers desirable vegetation.
Learn More
Japanese Knotweed
An aggressive riparian invader that grows dense monoculutres and diminishes ecological value.
Learn More
Porcelain Berry
A woody invasive vine that smothers desirable vegetation.
Learn More
Tree of Heaven
An invasive tree that is a host species for an aggricultural pest- the spotted lantern fly.
Learn More
Giant Hogweed
A noxious herbaceous plant that causes severe burns to the skin.
Learn More
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Get more resources to help you protect your garden from invasive species in the Garden Protector’s Toolbox. 

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