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NATIVE PLANT HABITATS
Florida brought in Old World climbing fern as an ornamental; the vine later smothered more than 100,000 acres and can carry ground fires into tree canopiesOnce admired for its ornamental beauty, the old world climbing fern has now wreaked havoc on Florida's ecosystems. This invasive plant grow...- Two Iowa families donated adjoining properties totaling 21 acres for wildlife; the land was transferred to county conservation for public useA heartwarming act in Pocahontas County, Iowa, sees neighbors John and Sally Pascal team up with Gail Ewan to donate land for a new 21-acre...
- In 1927, the US brought in weeping lovegrass for cattle and erosion control; one strain was later planted across 2 million acres of Oklahoma and TexasInitially introduced to the U.S. in the 1930s to alleviate soil erosion caused by the Dust Bowl, weeping lovegrass rapidly expanded across ...
- They cleared invasive shrubs from a Pennsylvania forest; What grew back surprised researchersResearchers cleared 18 invasive shrub species from a Pennsylvania woodland and followed it for seven years. Native plants and young trees r...
- In the late 1800s, America imported Japanese hops for medicine and gardens; escaped vines can now form 4-foot-thick blankets with thousands of plants per acreIntroduced to the United States in the late 1800s, Japanese hops were initially valued for their ornamental and medicinal qualities. Howeve...
- Before 1850, Americans grew Dyer’s woad for blue dye; in the Great Basin, one infestation later grew from 12,000 to 150,000 acres in eight yearsDyer's woad, once used for blue dye, has become an invasive species in the American West. This plant produces a high number of seeds and th...
- In the late 1800s, Americans planted lesser celandine for its bright yellow flowers; it escaped gardens, reached 31 states and covered 400 acres in one Ohio parkLesser celandine, once embraced for its beauty, has turned into a significant environmental challenge across multiple regions. This invasiv...
- In the 1950s, California brought in Cape ivy as an ornamental vine; it spread across 500,000+ acres, cutting native seedling variety by as much as 95%Cape ivy, introduced to California in the 1950s for ornamental purposes, has turned into a destructive invasive species. Its rapid growth s...
- By the late 1700s, European periwinkles had reached America; planted as ornamental ground cover, escaped plants covered 29,254 acres across 12 Southern states by 2008European periwinkles, once introduced to enhance gardens in the US, have become a troublesome invasive species in natural habitats. Their s...
- In East Texas, excluding feral hogs from forest plots for 7 years more than doubled the abundance of woody plant species with large seedsIn the Big Thicket National Preserve, feral hogs significantly disrupt forest ecosystems by consuming seeds and disturbing soil. A study re...
- In 1969, J. David Bamberger bought 3,000 acres of damaged Texas ranchland; 50 years later, 11 springs flowed and 221 bird species thrived thereBamberger wanted to do something different with his massive wealth. He made his fortune as a co-founder of Church's Fried Chicken reportedl...
- In 1848, California nursery operators brought pampas grass to Santa Barbara; it spread across the state, and one stand can release millions of seeds each yearPampas grass made its debut in California in 1848, admired for its striking appearance as an ornamental plant. However, its vigorous reprod...
- America brought yellow flag iris in for gardens; it escaped into wetlands, reached more than 40 states, and now congests water flow while crowding out native plantsThe yellow flag iris, first brought to North America in the 1800s, quickly evolved from an ornamental plant to a widespread ecological thre...
- In 2006, Maryland couple bought a 116-acre farm. 20 years later, it's home to otters, beavers and dozens of bird speciesMaryland couple Louise and John Durocher originally purchased a vast 116-acre farm for hunting. With time, they stopped farming the land, a...
- California used more than 2.5 million cubic yards of dredged material to rebuild Sonoma Baylands; The project restored 322 acres of tidal wetland habitatThe Sonoma Baylands initiative has harnessed dredged materials to rejuvenate California's tidal wetland habitats. Each year, excessive sedi...
- Amur honeysuckle arrived in America as an ornamental shrub; it later became a major invasive concern in forests across the northern United StatesIntroduced over a century ago, Amur honeysuckle quickly spread across the United States as an ornamental plant, but its aggressive growth h...
- In 1998, an Iowa couple bought land to restore a lost landscape; 25 years later, it became home to hundreds of plant and wildlife speciesJim grew up on a dairy farm, and spent much of his childhood outdoors. He studies natural sciences teaching and earned a master's degree in...
- In 2022, contractors began using 400,000 cubic yards of Mississippi River sand to build six islands at Minnesota’s Pigs Eye Lake; the project covers more than 40 acres and aims to protect surrounding wetlandsContractors began constructing new islands in Pigs Eye Lake in June 2022 using sand from the Mississippi River. This project aims to restor...
- California cleared invasive plants from three Camp Pendleton breeding areas; willow flycatchers resettled at those sites within 5–7 yearsIn 2023, a lone Southwestern Willow Flycatcher was spotted at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, a notable event after an absence since 2012...
- Queen’s Brian May transformed 157 acres of farmland into wildlife sanctuary with 100,000 trees; now serves as an animal rescue centreBrian May's vision, dubbed May's Wood, has transformed agricultural fields in Dorset into a vibrant woodland sanctuary, significantly impro...
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