Photo by Sylvia Bacon
Southern blue flag iris .
Native and Exotic ( Invasive and Noninvasive ) Defined You probably have heard the terms exotics and invasives . Not only do we have those in the animal world ( think snakehead fish ), but it is true of plants as well . Here are some simple definitions to help sort out any confusion .
Native Species — Native species are those plants indigenous to a specific region ( e . g ., the lower coastal plain ). Typically , in the United States , natives are those plants that are believed to be present before the arrival of European settlers . After that time , humans began to introduce plants from other countries .
Exotic Invasives — Exotic invasive plants are those species brought to the United States by intention ( e . g ., Chinese Tallow Tree , Japanese Privet , Chinese Wisteria , English Ivy ) or accident . These alien species wreak havoc on the ecosystems of Kiawah and other communities by spreading uncontrollably through bird or wind-dispersed seed , and thereby , displace our native species . Exotics fail to provide native wildlife the food sources they need to survive and reproduce . According to Kaufman and Kaufman , Invasive Plants : A Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species ( Stackpole Books ; Second edition ( April 1 , 2013 ), in a 2003 speech , the U . S . Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth asked the nation to appreciate the latest greatest environmental threat to its forests . “ The second greatest threat [ after fire ],” Bosworth said , “ is the spread of unwanted invasive species .” He went on to say “ All invasives combined cost Americans about $ 138 billion per year in total economic damages and associated control costs .” Imagine what that cost is today , 18 years later .
Exotic Noninvasives — Exotic plants that do not displace native species are considered non-invasive ; however , they do not provide the habitat needed by Kiawah wildlife to sustain themselves or their offspring . Exotic non-invasives can include plants from other regions of the U . S . or those from other countries . Examples of these exotic non-invasive species present on Kiawah include crape myrtle , fragrant tea olive , bottlebrush , and boxwood .
26 Naturally Kiawah