Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus bifrons) on May 31, 2025
Submitter does not have a specimen
EDRR Status: Local expert notified
Description of specimen
This is a huge thicket of Blackberries, probably Himalayan, and is dotted with white oak trees. It's borders encroach several homes on the south side and all of Chapman Hill School yards on the north. My home is surrounded on two sides of about 140 ft.
Thanks for your concern about invasive plant species. I appreciate you providing details of the issue.
Unfortunately, I’m not able to provide any advice or regulatory pathway to require the landowners to manage their invasive plant problem. We work with landowners on a voluntary basis. I’m not sure if the city or county governments have an ordinance in place, but it seems unlikely given how prevalent the problem is.
If the school wanted to reach out to Polk SWCD for assistance, it would be possible to meet with them on site to develop a plan of action for managing the issue. Our office has a tool loan program that would be helpful as well. We offer pruners and weed wrenches that are affective against blackberry. A mountain of blackberry bushes can seem overwhelming, but there are lots of positive examples of it being tackled.
The Glen-Gibson Watershed Council in W. Salem is a great group in your area involved in watershed health.
Feel free to give the school my contact information. I hope that is helpful. Thanks again for reaching out.
Beth Thiel
Polk SWCD
beth.thiel@polkswcd.com
Beth Thiel
June 27, 2025, 2:45 a.m.