Land Plants - invasive

Scots Broom (Cytisus scoparius) on Aug 13, 2008

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

green shrub, yellow flowers in spring, small leaves, pea-like flowers

very few along Wallace road in spring of 2004, now pretty much fills in most untended areas along east side of Wallace from just beyond the stop light at Glen Creek all the way to city limits

Commentary

Why is there so much Scotch broom and English Ivy allowed to exist and increase within Salem?

Reporter
Aug. 13, 2008, 3:11 p.m.

Hi Sally, thanks for your report of the Scotch Broom. Your question is a good one. When invasive species take hold in an area, they spread quickly because of their ability to outcompete native vegetation. They are particularly aggressive outcompeting native plants in disturbed areas, such as the sides of roads. Once they take hold, there are things that can be done, such as what you suggested, to better manage and control them, however, for those species that have become established, such as Scotch broom, English Ivy, and Himalayan Blackberry, we don't have the biological controls, funding, or human resources to contain them in all areas of the state. Biological controls show some promise for management of yellow starthistle and Scotch broom (recently, biological controls for Scotch broom were released) - most of these controls focus on eliminating or reducing the seed source from these plants.

The Oregon Invasive Species Council is working with The Nature Conservancy and others to develop an early detection rapid response program for Oregon so that we can catch some of these invasive plants when they are first introduced to Oregon. We've been very successful in eradicating newcomer invasive species to the state - but you have to find them early and respond quickly - or they become established, like Scotch broom and English ivy.

Public education and information is an important component in the fight against invasives. In local areas, people can successfully remove Scotch broom, and through monitoring, remove any additional plants that appear over time.

Thank you again for your report.

Lisa DeBruyckere
Aug. 14, 2008, 12:43 a.m.