Invasive woody plants make up more than 45% of the trees in the seven-county Chicago region. These trees and shrubs grow prolifically not only in vacant lots and wooded areas, but in many yards and community green spaces.
The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative offers resources and information on how to identify and eradicate invasive woody plants and gives recommendations on what to plant in their place.
Having invasive plants on your property can be overwhelming. To plan for removing them, learn about the plants and break the job down into manageable tasks.
Why Invasive Plants Are a Problem
Some trees, shrubs, and other plants are considered invasive because they easily invade new areas by seed or other forms of propagation.
Invasive plants, most of which are species imported from other parts of the world, have a tendency to spread and disrupt ecosystems in natural areas such as state and national parks and forest preserves. They can outcompete native plants, upsetting the balance of the ecosystem and making the habitat less suitable for native plants and animals.
Invasive woody plants, especially shrubby plants such as buckthorn and honeysuckle, also occupy large amounts of land in urban areas that would otherwise be available for planting more desirable trees. They are a significant and ongoing land management concern.
Species that are considered invasive in northern Illinois include:
Identifying Invasive Plants
Before you can work on removing and replacing the invasives in your yard, it is critical to identify them properly. Treatments and management strategies differ between plant species. The resources below will help you identify common invasive shrubs and trees in northern Illinois and beyond.
Resources
Invasive Trees and Shrubs videos (University of Illinois Extension). These videos can help with identification of a number of common invasive shrubs and other plants.
“Identification and control of woody invasive species in fall and winter,” (Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Invasive Species Campaign, blog post)
Management of Invasive Plants and Pests guide (The Morton Arboretum and the University of Illinois Extension). This booklet has lists and photos of many common invasive plants, along with management recommendations.
iNaturalist and Seek apps (iNaturalist). These apps can be used to identify and track the plants and animals you see, with verification from other app users. They also help with identification of trees and shrubs, including invasive species.
Common Buckthorn (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). This advice page concerns the most widespread invasive plant in the Chicago region.
The Plant Clinic (The Morton Arboretum). Call or email for expert confirmation of plant identification and advice on eradication.
Choosing Replacement Plants
Once you’ve successfully and sustainably removed invasive woody plants from your property, it’s time to think about what will replace them. The resources below provide examples of more beneficial plants that can replace invasives.
Resources
Healthy Habitats Brochure Series (Chicago Region Trees Initiative of The Morton Arboretum). This series of handout materials, including brochures and a poster, provide advice on native and nonnative plants that make great hedges, screens, and border plants, plus advice on sustainably managing small and large properties.
Search Trees and Plants (The Morton Arboretum). This online tool helps you search for trees and shrubs by the site’s growing conditions, such as soil and sun exposure, as well as other attributes including size, drought tolerance, and fall color.
Selecting Shrubs for Your Home (University of Illinois Extension). This interactive guide helps you identify the right shrub for your site.
Education and Training
Training from local professionals can help you manage invasive plants. Land management professionals in the Chicago region are generous with their knowledge. The programs linked below, many of them focused on natural areas restoration, are a sampling of what is available.
Resources and Training Programs
Natural Areas Conservation Training (N-ACT) program (The Morton Arboretum). This is an in-depth training and certification program in natural areas restoration. You can also take individual classes on topics such as natural areas management and plant identification without enrolling in the certification program. An on-demand online course, Invasive Species Managament, is available any time.
Educational webinars (The Conservation Foundation). This series of webinars, available on YouTube, covers various topics in sustainable gardening.
Illinois Master Naturalist Program (University of Illinois Extension). This program trains volunteers to work in natural areas.
Greencorps Chicago (City of Chicago) The City of Chicago’s green-industry employment program with on-the-job training in establishing, maintaining, and restoring natural and public spaces for individuals with barriers to employment.
Chicago Conservation Corps (City of Chicago and partners). A partnership between nonprofit organizations and the city of Chicago’s Department of Transportation, this program trains and mobilizes more than 300 paid high school youth and adults each year to restore natural areas in Cook County.
Local forest preserve or conservation districts. Most of these organizations offer a wide range of workshops and training.
Map of Shrubby Invasive Plants in the Chicago Region
Because invasive woody plants are such a huge problem in the seven-county Chicago region, CRTI and Purdue University’s Digital Forestry Initiative have mapped where shrubby invasive plants are located and whether the lands where these plants are found are private or public.
The interactive Map of Shrubby Invasive Plants in the Chicago Region can help land managers plan for invasive plant control. Conservation programs can use it to coordinate with local landowners to help curb the spread of invasive woody plants and shrubs.
View the interactive map.
Financial Support for Large-Scale Projects
Land management can get expensive. Here are some resources that may offset costs.
Whether you’re working on a management plan, clearing invasives, or purchasing and planting replacement plants, restoration costs can add up. The grants and tax incentive programs below can help support the removal of invasive species and other land management efforts.
Resources
The Conservation Stewardship Program (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) offers tax incentives for restoration on five acres or more.
IDNR Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) offers funding for native gardens on school campuses.
Spread the Word
Once you’ve removed invasive woody plants from your land and installed more beneficial plants, get recognition for your hard work and spread the word by encouraging others to do the same. The programs listed below will celebrate your land improvements, and they can encourage your neighbors to make similar efforts.
Resources
Conservation@Home programs (The Conservation Foundation). This program helps homeowners develop more environmentally-friendly landscapes, and recognizes properties that have been improved. There are Conservation@Home programs in every county in the Chicago region.
Chicago Living Corridors This project invites homeowners to add their addresses to an online map to work toward corridors of ecologically sustainable yards. Add your property to the map!