Japanese angelica tree found in Monroe County!

Japanese angelica tree (Aralia elata), a fast-growing invasive tree that poses a serious threat to native plants and ecosystems, has, for the first time, been confirmed in the Finger Lakes, growing in a park in Monroe county. First introduced as an ornamental landscaping plant, the species has escaped into and wreaked havoc upon natural areas in many parts of the US, including large sections of Pennsylvania and New York. This species has been given an invasiveness score of “Very High” by New York’s Non-Native Plant Assessment program, and it’s ability to negatively impact our environment should not be taken lightly. Please be on the lookout for this unwanted invader and report individuals and populations to FL-PRISM using iMapInvasives. For more information on this plant and how to control it, please see the fact sheet below.