Mark Gilson Third-generation Owner OSU, B.A (english) 1973 Lake Erie College, B.S. (accounting) 1980 Nursery Growers of Lake County Ohio (president) 2007 Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (board) 2009-2011 Nursery Grower Committee Chair, ONLA 2012-2013 Ohio Invasive Plant Council (treasurer) 2009-2013 Arcola Creek Watershed Action Plan Work Group 2012 Perry Joint Economic Development District (board) 2009-2015 Lake County Ag Water Coalition (founder) 2010-Present Community Advisory Board, Ideastream, NPV & Public Television 2013-Present Certified Public Accountant (former)
Terrestrial invasive plants Aquatic invasive plants Invasive insects and pathogens Invasive animals
Phragmites australis! Common Reed Grass Native forms overtaken by more aggressive European forms in 1800s
Introduced from Europe along eastern ports Few natural controls Reduces natural biodiversity Few natural interactions Allelopathic (?)
Efforts to take back Northern Ohio! Control regimes Recycling as bio-fuel Mentor Marsh (glyphosate!)
Invasive Plants Plants introduced from outside an ecosystem that tend to take over that ecosystem creating monocultures and reducing natural biodiversity. Garlic mustard and the west virginia white
Invasive Plant is a defined term! They invade Natural Areas (minimally managed areas) Agricultural and landscape weeds are not necessarily included! Photo: lythrum salicaria
Introduced from Japan 1876 Kudzu Festivals! The vine that ate the South Recently discovered near Cleveland, Akron and also in Ontario
Invasive Plant is a defined term! They invade Natural Areas (minimally managed areas) Agricultural and landscape weeds are not necessarily included! Photo: Akebia
Roadsides Farms Construction Zones Photo: pyrus callerana
Cultivated areas vs natural areas (minimally managed areas)
Generally they must jump a spatial gap to invade a natural area They must establish themselves in the natural area and spread over time
Plants introduced into natural areas by direct human activity are not considered invasive Homesteads!
Garden thugs are not necessarily invasive plants!
Native Plants are those that were present about the time of European Arrival in North America generally considered to be around 1750
Why are native plants so special??? Dramatic natural changes prior to 1750s! Native American interaction prior to 1750s! Won t everything be everywhere eventually? (biotic homogenization)
British Botanists! A living language Beginning of large-scale collection and movement of plants Binomial nomenclature 1753! The first available baseline Sedum ternatum
Native plants are Insect friendly Transferring plant energy from photosynthesis Evolved with local ecosystems
naturalizing process takes 500 years or more Local ecologies involve complex layered biological and chemical interactions Gilson Gardens, 2015
Were nurseries always on a collision course with invasive plants? Storrs & Harrison Nursery, Painesville, 1854-1940
Horticultural diversity If it can be grown here you can buy it at Kohankie s Kohankie Nursery, Perry, 1903 1960s
6 to 10 miles wide and twenty miles long from Mentor to Madison 1955: 205 nurseries 3075 acres 1975: 143 nurseries 7247 acres 2007: 60 nurseries $87 Million in sales
1700s Early Presidents were horticulturists! 1800s US Government engaged in worldwide collections!
1920s-1930s invasive species Chestnut decline Dutch elm disease Silent Spring 1970 Earth Day and term environmentalism 1980s gradual appearance of the term invasive plant
1996 Reichard article in American Nurseryman 1998 Executive Order 13112 stipulated broad stakeholder involvement 2000 St Louis Conference 2002 followup Chicago Conference
Draft Voluntary Codes of Conduct for Nursery Professionals 1. Ensure that invasive potential is assessed prior to introducing and marketing plant species new to North America. Invasive potential should be assessed by the introducer or qualified experts using emerging risk assessment methods that consider plant characteristics and prior observations or experience with the plant elsewhere in the world. Additional insights may be gained through extensive monitoring on the nursery site prior to further distribution. 2. Work with regional experts and stakeholders to determine which species in your region are either currently invasive or will become invasive. Identify plants that could be suitable alternatives in your region. 3. Develop and promote alternative plant material through plant selection and breeding. 4. Where agreement has been reached among nursery associations, government, academia, and ecology and conservation organizations, phase-out existing stocks of those specific invasive species in regions where they are considered to be a threat. 5. Follow all laws on importation and quarantine of plant materials across political boundaries. 6. Encourage customers to use, and garden writers to promote, non-invasive plants.
2. Work with regional experts and stakeholders to determine which species in your region are either currently invasive or will become invasive. Identify plants that could be suitable alternatives in your region.
1. Ensure that invasive potential is assessed prior to introducing and marketing plant species new to North America. Invasive potential should be assessed by the introducer or qualified experts using emerging risk assessment methods that consider plant characteristics and prior observations or experience with the plant elsewhere in the world. Additional insights may be gained through extensive monitoring on the nursery site prior to further distribution. Sedum sunsparkler series
4. Where agreement has been reached among nursery associations, government, academia, and ecology and conservation organizations, phase-out existing stocks of those specific invasive species in regions where they are considered to be a threat.
Endorsed by: American Nursery and Landscape Association American Society of Landscape Architects ONLA Perennial Plant Association MI Nursery Association NY Nursery Association MN Nursery Association CN Nursery Association PA Nursery Association and more! Participants Included: Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery Pierre Bennerup Sunny Border Nursery Peter Bristol Chicago Botanical Gardens Dale Hendricks North Creek Nursery Wayne Mezitt Weston Nursery Craig Rugelbrugge ANLA
2000 Working Group and first Invasives List (did not engage stakeholders) Interagency Committee 2004 Steering Committee 2005 OIPC and over-reaching ONLA push back 2008 OIPC Strategic Plan and work on a new list
Gilson Gardens catalog 2006: Invasive Denotes plants that are potentially invasive in the Midwest, according to The Plant Conservation Alliance. Prudent selection and use is recommended.
December 2008 ONLA forms Invasives Workgroup June 2009 ONLA/OIPC collaboration November 2011 OIPC completes draft of sciencebased protocol September 2012 ONLA endorses OIPC Protocol December 2012 Assessment Team for Ohio Invasive Plants and the Nursery Industry Where do we go from here? Recognizing the Problem As conscientious environmental stewards, nurseries must address the detrimental effect on natural areas in Ohio when certain plants escape cultivation. Actions by local governments, inspired by a concerned public, are already impacting the nursery industry. Cooperating Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and OIPC have joined forces to address invasive plant issues, improve awareness of invasive plant threats to Ohio s natural areas and develop recommendations for Ohio landowners. Creating an Ohio Protocol Stakeholders are working on a cultivar-specific protocol to assess a plant s invasiveness based on empirical, scientifically-based evidence with rigorous assessment factors including impacts to Ohio s natural areas, regionality within Ohio, and whether the plant can jump spatial gaps. Drafting a new Invasive Plant List A revised Invasive Plant List for Ohio, based on scientific assessment, will replace the previous list developed in 2000. Promoting an Alternate Plant List Non-invasive alternate species and cultivars will be recommended and promoted to help ensure healthy, diverse natural ecosystems throughout Ohio. Becoming Involved Visit www.oipc.info and www.onla.org to learn more and make your voice heard in this important on-going discussion! Photos: (1 )Ampelopsis, Indian Point Park, Lake County OH (2) Pyrus, West Chester OH (3) Euonymus fortunei, Winton Woods Park, Hamilton County OH (4)Butomus umbellatus, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Harbor OH (5) Euonymus alatus, Caesar Creek State Park, Wilmington, OH
Two-step assessment protocol 18 science-based questions Scoring of answers Separate document for Assessment Policies and Procedures David Gorchov, PhD
No consideration of economic merit No consideration of aesthetic merit No consideration of control difficulties Let the chips fall
Cultivar Friendly! Popular cultivars considered side-by-side with species! All nursery production plants receive full examination! No Watch List! Separate Policies and Procedures
Alternatives list developed alongside invasives list! Two ONLA designates on 5-person Assessment Team! Anyone on the Assessment Team can request another look!
Five person Assessment Team: Theresa Culley, PhD John Cardina, PhD Dick Munson, PhD David Brandenburg Rick Gardener
Scoring Invasive 45 80 Pending Further Review 35 44 Not Known to be Invasive 0 34 Potentilla verna
Invasive non-nursery plants Lythrum Loosestrife 77 Phragmites 70 Alliaria Garlic mustard 63 Microstegium Stiltgrass 60 Pueraria Kudzu 56 Ranunculus Lesser Celandine 47
Invasive Nursery Plants Lonicera Amur 65 Elaeagnus Autumn Olive 63 Celastrus Oriental 59 Rosa multiflora 58 Pyrus Callery Pear 54 Berberis thunbergii 54 Lonicera Halls Honeysuckle 49 Euonymus fortunei 45 Oriental Bittersweet in a Lake County Metropark
Pending further review Ligustrum vulgare 44 Ampelopsis porcelainberry 40 Hemerocallis Ditch Lily 37 Acer Norway Maple 36
Not Known to be Invasive Ligustrum obtusifolium 30 Dandelion 29 Acer ginnala Amur Maple 15 Acer campestre Hedge Maple 11 Acer Crimson King 11 Liriope Big Blue 7 (not a complete list) Liriope muscari Big Blue
To be Assessed: Coronillia varia Lysimachia nummularia Lythrums Minscanthus sinensis Hedera heliz Vinca minor Euonymus alatus Ligustrum ovalifolium Viburnum opulus var opulus Catalpa speciosa Berberis atropurpurea
Placing a plant on the state invasive plant list carries an economic consequence even without regulation Sustainable Sites Initiative LEED Photo: Frank Hetz
Some nurserymen were concerned that industry was not prepared for listing of Pyrus Calleryana At 11 th hour 12/10/2013 a six-month comment period between presenting and listing was proposed
Lonicera Halliana introduced 1862 Eighty-year lag time between introduction and widespread invasion Average time lag is 125 years Should assessment be predictive?
cultivated varieties are the heart and soul of horticulture! Lack of information pushes many cultivars into pending further review Some want to develop separate assessment for cultivars
SB 192 established ODA as lead agency in Ohio ODA engaged in rulemaking process Some plants likely to be removed from the marketplace
How should we evaluate new horticultural introductions? Who pays for the assessment? Photo: weeping cercis
Massachusetts (ANLA protocol) Connecticut (ANLA protocol) Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association voluntary restriction on Berberis atropurpurea cultivars Michigan Photo: Lake George Narrows NY
New York Bans in effect July 1, 2015 Berberis atropurpurea including all cultivars Rhamnus Fine Line Euonymus fortunei requires invasive label Photo: Watkins Glen NY
Do we rely too much on certain plants? Can we aggressively market alternatives to Invasive Plants? Are non-invasive nonnative plants OK? Environmental Horticulture!
Growers and conservationists in each state must continue a constructive dialogue that addresses the realities and sensibilities of both sides!
EDRR GLEDN phone app Provide research input at grass roots level! Join OIPC memberlistserve! Learn more!
Plant Life!
www.gilsongardens.biz Mark s Corner www.oipc.info www.nglco.com