A bill passed in the Missouri legislature would ban the sale of six invasive plants — Sericea Lespedeza, the Burning Bush (Compactus), the Callery Pear, the Japanese Honeysuckle, the Perilla Mint, and the Wintercreeper (Coloratus).
The bill passed the House by a margin of 124-19. State Representatives Mazzie Christensen and Jeff Farnan voted yes. The bill awaits Governor Mike Kehoe’s signature. If he does not sign it by July 14th, it will automatically become law.
Sericea Lespedeza, also known as the Chinese Bush Clover, produces seeds that remain viable in soil for more than two decades. It releases compounds into the soil that harm other plants and crowds out native plant species.
The Burning Bush is widely sold on gardening websites and produces bright red colors in fall, but it can form dense thickets, displacing native vegetation.
The Callery Pear, also known as the Bradford Pear, is prone to wind and ice damage, causing frequent power outages and damage. It chokes out native grasslands and also invades forest areas.
The Japanese Honeysuckle is a perennial vine which crowds out native plants. It kills trees by twining around tree trunks and eventually crushes them under its weight. It also attacks shrubs and other vegetation. It can grow as high as 50 feet when growing up a tree or 6-10 feet long on the ground.
The Perilla Mint was introduced for its medicinal and culinary purposes, but it can be toxic to livestock. It can be fatal. In West Virginia, multiple animal fatalities were reported.
The Wintercreeper spreads rapidly, chokes out native plants, and is so dangerous that it poses a threat to entire forests. In 2019, The Pitch did a feature on Swope Park in Kansas City and stated that the Wintercreeper was one of its biggest threats.
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