Download Invasive Plant Descriptions Red Sesbania

Invasive Plant Descriptions Red Sesbania (Sesbania punicea): A native to South America, this plant at maturity can produce up 10,000 seeds in a single year. Sprouted plants can start producing seeds within three months, quickly overtaking our native parkway riparian plants. As well as being a fast invader Red Sesbania is toxic to any animal that may ingest it. Red Sesbania grows readily in moist soils along the American River and if discovered at a young age is easy to remove by a quick tug near the base of the plant. So keep an eye out for red blossoms and rattling seed pods two ways for a quick identification of the parkways most unwanted! Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum): A Mediterranean native, this California invader takes root is sunny spots that consist of dry sandy soils. It can be seen on Rossmoor Bar located within the American River Parkway. It produces bright yellow flowers in spring and quickly dropping its leaves before the heat of summer. Spanish Broom grows in the form of a shrub growing up to 15 feet tall with hollow branches looking very similar to native California rushes. French Broom (Genista monspessulana): Also a Mediterranean native and a close relative of Spanish Broom. This invader takes up similar habitat to Spanish Broom in sunny spots composed of dry sandy soils. This broom species is slightly smaller, only reaching a height of 8 feet. The distinguishing features separating French Broom from its close relatives are its evergreen foliage, woody stems, and need for slightly more moist soils. French Broom and its relative Spanish Broom displace an American River native, California Broom (Acmispon glaber). These foreign broom species outgrow and out compete California Broom anywhere they grow. Giant Reed (Arundo donax): A native to the Mediterranean and Asiatic regions, Giant Reed or Arundo as it is commonly called is very similar in appearance to bamboo with more grass like characteristics. Giant Reed grows along the American River in moist soils and reaches heights up to 30 feet. This is an especially difficult plant to eradicate as it multiplies by forming roots from fallen stems where ever they may land. Just by its sheer size and growth rate, Giant Reed impacts all surrounding native plants by decreasing available sunlight and resources. Pampas Grass (Cortaderia sellona): Native to South America, this large bunch grass growing up to 10 feet tall and producing large flower plumes grows readily in moist soil along the American River. This invasive plant is a desirable landscape plant and seen frequently throughout the Sacramento region. A suitable replacement for this invasive grass species in landscape projects is Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens). Deergrass is a native bunch grass to the American River Parkway and a species that has lost significant habitat due to invasive plant encroachment. Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera): An East Asia native, Chinese Tallow has invaded the American River banks stealing precious habitat and resources from native trees such as the desirable Fremont Cottonwood. Chinese Tallow is a very prolific tree, able to reproduce within three years and producing thousands of seeds when fully grown. Chinese Tallow can be spotted easily in fall when the leaves add a bright splash of red to the parkway, signaling their position to parkway conservationist. Oleander (Nerium oleander): Native to Asia and the Mediterranean, Oleander can be seen along anywhere from highways and subdivisions, to hedgerows and nurseries. Oleander is one of the most common ornamental plants in the region. It readily escapes from roadsides and backyards, slowly making its way into the American River Parkway. Oleander likes to take root is dry streambeds, it has been known to thrive on large gravel bars and islands throughout the American River. Oleander may be beautiful but it does not belong on the American River where it is reducing native habitat for our furry and feathered parkway friends. Yellow Star Thistle (Centurea solstitialis): An extreme invader to open spaces and grassland areas, Yellow Star Thistle a native to the Mediterranean region is quick to overtake any sunny open space within the American River Parkway. Yellow Star Thistle will outcompete native grasses and wildflowers in almost any situation. It creates a hazard to recreators by inhibiting access and is also toxic to most grazing mammals that would normally consume such a plant. This plant grows to approximately 4 feet tall and when flowering produces hundreds of flowers all of which are accompanied by sharp spikes that cause pain to any open skin if you happen to be the unlucky individual who stumbles upon them. Yellow Star Thistle can be seen in almost every open space within the American River Parkway and are slowly devoiding the parkway of native grassland species and biodiversity. Stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens): A relative newcomer to California first being identified in 1994. Stinkwort is a highly invasive plant being able to produce thousands of seeds in a single season and creating monocultures wherever they take hold. This plant grows to a height of 3 feet in the shape of miniature Christmas trees and is easy to identify by its aroma, tiny yellow flowers, and unique structure. Due to its ability to cause skin irritation and outcompete native plants in open sunny areas of the parkway, Stinkwort is considered a priority plant for eradication from the American River Parkway. Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum): A native to approximately half of the Eastern hemisphere, Milk Thistle is prolific and widespread. In late spring Milk Thistle can be seen in bloom throughout the parkway having the ability to tolerate shade as well as intense sunlight. Its name comes from the milky white veins that are so boldly stated on all of the leaves of the plant. As with most thistles, Milk Thistle can be very discouraging to pedestrians as it has very large spines that cover most of the plant. With its robust structure and invasiveness Milk Thistle provides strong competition to other parkway native plants. Catalpa Tree (Catalpa bignonioides): A native to the Midwestern United States, this tree has won medals for its beauty. Having showy white flowers, heart shaped leaves and long bean type seed pods in late summer this tree is easy to distinguish from native California trees. Catalpa trees love moist soils, growing rapidly to heights of 60 feet. Catalpa trees readily seed into the banks of the American River and displace other native riparian trees that provide habitat for parkway wildlife. Chinese Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima): Native to China and Taiwan, the Chinese Tree of Heaven was first introduced into the United States in 1784 in a period of Chinese influence on European gardening. It is one of the first trees to recolonize disturbed areas, with a rapid growth rate and high level of seed dispersal it quickly outcompetes native plants. The Chinese Tree of Heaven can be seen along Rossmoor Bar in the large coble area away from the river’s edge. It is easy to spot in winter when the leaves have dropped and the large brown seed structures are still hanging in the branches. Pyracantha (Pyracantha sp.): Pyracantha is a large evergreen shrub native to Europe and Asia. It is easily distinguished by the brightly colored berries it produces in late summer and throughout the fall. An escapee from suburban backyards, Pyracantha produces berries which are carried by birds and mammals into the parkway limiting available habitat for native plants that call the river home. Tamarisk (Tamarix sp.): An evergreen shrub normally growing in dry soils is native to the Eurasian and African countries of the world. Tamarisk or Salt Cedar as some call it is very rare on the parkway due to an effective removal effort. It is still a plant to watch out for but due to dedicated volunteers, it is a plant that the parkway has evicted.