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Table 1.2e Selected alien plant species associated with forests in Canada. (Sources: Hendrickson 2002; CBCN 1997; P. Catling, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, personal communication, 2004)
Threat to Common name Typea Origin Distribution Invasive potentialb Habitat/impact

Integrity of forest ecosystems Norway maple T Eurasian ON, QC, NL L Spreading from urban areas
Garlic mustard H Eurasian BC, ON, QC H Roadsides, open woods, near habitations.
Outcompetes native species.
Scotch broom H Europe BC, NS, PEI P Sandy roadsides, barrens, open woods.
Major problem in Garry oak ecosystems (BC).
Tartarian honeysuckle S Asia ON, NL, NS, NB, PEI L Forest edges. Displaces native understory and ground flora.
White mulberry T Eurasian ON L Waste areas, fence rows, forest edges (hybridzes with rare native red mulberry)
Norway spruce T Eurasian Eastern Canada P Forms dense evergreen story in moist deciduous woods.
Scots pine, Scotch pine T Europe BC, SK, AB, MB, ON, QC, NL, NB, NS, PEI L Old fields, roadsides, open bogs, open woods.
Vector for European pine shoot beetle on neighboring jack and red pines (ON).
Glossy buckthorn S/T Europe MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PEI H Displaces native species in wetlands, bogs, shaded ravines, and mixed woods (ON, QC, and local impact in Maritimes)
English ivy H Europe BC, ON L Fields, old gardens, urban areas. Kills mature trees (BC).
Common gorse S Europe BC ? Occupies large patches, problem in Garry oak habitats (BC)
Natural regeneration or plantations Silver birch, European white birch T Europe BC, MB, ON, NS, PEI L Disturbed quarries and bogs, wetlands, or plantations (displaces native flora, overshades)
Diffuse knapweed H Europe YT, BC, AB, ON Pc Mountain meadows. Interferes with conifer survival and growth in interior of BC.
Spotted knapweed H Europe BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NL P Forms dense stands in mountain meadows
Bull thistle H Eurasian BC, SK ? Establishes in lodgepole pine clearcuts
Urban forests or open areas Wild chervil H Europe NL, NS, NB, QC, ON, BC ? Rich, moist soils. Forest edges, open forests, roadsides, waste areas. Often kills the surrounding vegetation by shading it.
Ground ivy H Europe BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NL, NB, NS, PEI ? Forms dense carpets in riparian woodlands and aspen groves (SK)
English holly S Eurasian BC ? Invades closed forests in greater Vancouver (BC)
Privet S Europe ON P Invades woodlands
White poplar T Europe BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NL L Beach habitats, urban areas (hybridizes with native poplars)
European/common buckthorn S/T Europe BC, SK, ON, QC, NS, PEI H Open woods, pastures, fence rows, forest edges (excludes native seedlings)
Black locust, false acacia T USA Southern Canada L Fence rows, roadsides, pastures, and moist woodlands
Siberian elm T Asia Frequently planted as urban tree P Open woodlands
a T=tree; S=shrub; H=herb.
b L=low level invasive; H=highly invasive; P=potentially invasive; ?=unknown (CBCN 1997).
c Invasive potential inferred from Harris 2003.