Hyde Park has been the home of one of Waterkeeper’s living shoreline sites since 2017. While the shoreline has seen many improvements and has become a valuable community asset, it still faces challenges posed by invasive species. This Invasive Species Awareness Week, you can help us monitor a few invasive species that are commonly found at our restoration sites:
Common Buckthorn Can grow up to 25 ft tall! Has nasty thorns. Prolific seed producers, and grow into dense thickets.
Bull Thistle Can grow up to 6 ft tall. Has nasty spines. Can form dense stands and outcompete desirable species. Manual removal can be effective, and BNW staff cut the flowers off before they set seed.
Canada Thistle Smaller than bull thistle, but still spiny. Displaces native vegetation, and poses agricultural threats.
Common Teasel Similar notes to above thistles
Phragmites or Common Reed Can grow up to 15 ft tall. ‘Large, feathery plumes of flowers change from purple-brown in July, to tan-grey later in the season. Plants can spread through rhizomes, stolons and seed. Infestations can overtake hundreds of acres, displace critical wetland species and alter site hydrology.’
For more information on invasive species in WNY, check out this booklet by clicking here.
