Clematis for Months of Bloom and Some Research Helps Prevent the Planting of Invasive Species

I thought you might like to see two of the clematis in bloom. The deep purple Jackmannii is on another support and much older so it has hundreds of blooms. The wonder of clematis is that if you have enough of them in your garden the bloom is continuous for months.

All the plant guides say they want their roots in shade but you can see them thriving on chainlink fences too.

An interesting site about a California effort, Plant Right is educating the public about invasive plants. The point is that invasive plants cause more harm than gardeners may know. They consume natural resources and displace native plants. Kudzu was originally planted to solve a problem with another invasive plant. A little research would have prevented the eventual rampant spread of it. Some of the California invasives such as Vinca and Russian Olive are also problem plants here.

The U. S. Department of Agriculture maintains a website with information about invasives across the country.

The Forest Service has a cooperative website, Invasive Species, that has links for Weeds of the US and noxious weeds by state.

The Oklahoma Biosurvey has a more thorough list they call Oklahoma's Least Wanted. The USDA Plant Database link led to the answer to another "What is that?" question.

There is a shrub that grows everywhere whether you want it or not. It is called Ligustrum sinense Lour. Chinese privet. We always called it native privet but it appears to be from China. I would add Bradford Pear and elm trees to any list of invasive plants based upon the number of seedlings that have to be pulled out every year.

Hopefully, you have very few of these in your yard.