Photo credit: Sage Advice LD
According to a 2010 tree census conducted by the U.S. Forest Service and The Morton Arboretum, buckthorn is the most common tree in the Chicago region. Common, or European, Buckthorn, and glossy buckthorn were brought to the midwest to be used as hedging material. Both species have a long growing season and a dense growth pattern, which allows them to crowd out native vegetation, which degrades habitat for wildlife. Buckthorn lacks natural controls such as disease or insects that would curb its growth and its seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to five years. You can be part of the solution by clearing this invasive plant from the landscape you control.
Substitutions for Woody Invasive Plants in Your Yard