New Mexico’s diverse landscapes, from its mountainous regions to shaded riparian areas, are at risk from invasive plant species that thrive in low-light environments. These invasive plants can spread quickly, outcompeting native vegetation and disrupting local ecosystems. Identifying these invasive plants and choosing native alternatives is essential for preserving New Mexico’s natural beauty and biodiversity.
List of Invasive Shade-Tolerant Garden Plants in New Mexico
1. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Description: A fast-growing deciduous tree with large, pinnate leaves and small greenish flowers. It’s often planted for its rapid growth and ability to thrive in poor soils.
Impact: Tree of Heaven spreads aggressively, forming dense stands in shaded areas that outcompete native species and alter ecosystems.
Garden Alternative: Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) - A native tree with attractive flowers that thrives in similar conditions and supports local wildlife.
2. Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
Description: A deciduous tree or shrub with silvery leaves and small yellow flowers, often planted for its drought tolerance.
Impact: Russian Olive invades riparian and shaded areas, forming dense stands that displace native plants and alter habitat conditions.
Garden Alternative: Desert Hackberry (Celtis pallida) - A native shrub that provides similar drought tolerance and wildlife support without invasive characteristics.
3. Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima)
Description: A deciduous shrub or small tree with feathery, pinkish flowers, often found along watercourses in shaded areas.
Impact: Saltcedar displaces native vegetation along riparian zones, lowering water tables and reducing habitat quality for wildlife.
Garden Alternative: Coyote Willow (Salix exigua) - A native shrub that stabilizes soil along waterways and provides habitat for wildlife without being invasive.
4. Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)
Description: A dense, evergreen shrub with small, dark green leaves and white flowers. It’s often used for hedging but has become invasive in many areas.
Impact: Chinese Privet forms dense thickets in shaded areas, outcompeting native plants and reducing habitat quality for wildlife.
Garden Alternative: New Mexico Olive (Forestiera neomexicana) - A native shrub with yellow flowers and edible fruits that thrive in shaded conditions and support local wildlife.
5. Periwinkle (Vinca major and Vinca minor)
Description: Evergreen ground covers with glossy leaves and blue or purple flowers, commonly used in shaded gardens.
Impact: Periwinkle spreads aggressively, forming dense mats that overshadow and outcompete native ground covers, reducing biodiversity.
Garden Alternative: Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) - A native ground cover with bright yellow flowers that thrives in shaded conditions and supports local pollinators.
6. Giant Reed (Arundo donax)
Description: A tall, perennial grass with bamboo-like stems and feathery plumes, often found in riparian zones and moist, shaded areas.
Impact: Giant Reed spreads aggressively, forming dense stands that displace native vegetation, particularly in wetland and riparian areas.
Garden Alternative: Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens) - A native grass that provides similar height and structure in wet areas without the invasive spread.
7. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Description: A vigorous, semi-evergreen vine with fragrant white to yellow flowers and dark green leaves, often planted for ornamental purposes.
Impact: Japanese Honeysuckle forms dense mats that smother native plants, reducing biodiversity in shaded and woodland areas.
Garden Alternative: Chaparral Honeysuckle (Lonicera interrupta) - A native vine with tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and thrive in shaded environments.
8. Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Description: A climbing vine with cascading purple flowers, often planted for its dramatic floral displays.
Impact: Chinese Wisteria aggressively climbs and smothers native trees and shrubs, causing significant ecological damage in shaded environments.
Garden Alternative: American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) - A native vine with similar purple flowers that supports local wildlife and is less aggressive.
9. Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
Description: A spiny annual herb with yellow flowers, often found in disturbed and shaded areas.
Impact: Yellow Starthistle invades rangelands and shaded areas, forming dense stands that crowd out native vegetation and reduce grazing quality.
Garden Alternative: Desert Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) - A native perennial with orange flowers that supports pollinators and thrives in similar conditions.
Conclusion
Invasive shade-tolerant plants can significantly impact New Mexico’s ecosystems by outcompeting native species and altering local habitats. By selecting native, non-invasive alternatives, gardeners can help maintain ecological balance, support local wildlife, and preserve the natural beauty of New Mexico’s landscapes.
For more information and to connect with other gardening enthusiasts, join our Facebook group: Shade Gardening.
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