FOLEY — Plants once brought to the Gulf Coast for decoration, erosion control and agriculture have become a growing threat to native ecosystems, according to conservation officials who spoke Monday at the Foley Community Library.

The presentation by Graham Creek Nature Preserve opened the library's "Bites and Insights" discussion series Sept. 15, giving residents a closer look at invasive plant species spreading throughout coastal Alabama and what can be done to control them.

Ryan Caver, nature parks superintendent for the city of Foley, and Hayden Hopkins, a park ranger II for the city, discussed species

including cogongrass, Chinese tallowtree, kudzu, Chinese privet, Japanese climbing fern and nonnative honeysuckle.

For Caver, managing invasive plants is one of the most difficult parts of protecting Graham Creek Nature Preserve, a city-owned preserve that includes wetlands, pine habitat and areas managed with prescribed fire.

"We are at literal war with these invasive species," Caver said. "It is my fiduciary duty to do everything I can to stop it, and right now we're merely holding on."

Many of the plants now causing problems were deliberately introduced to the United States because they appeared useful.

Kudzu, for example, was promoted throughout the South for erosion control and livestock forage. Its rapid growth, however, allows it to cover trees and other vegetation, blocking sunlight and pushing out native species.

Chinese tallowtree, commonly called the popcorn tree, was introduced in hopes of producing oil from its seeds and later became popular as an ornamental because of its colorful fall foliage. Birds and water can spread its seeds into forests and wetlands, where the trees can crowd out native vegetation.

Hopkins told attendees that tallowtrees can appear even in recently landscaped areas because birds spread their seeds so easily.

"They're everywhere, too," Hopkins said. "If you recognize it, start walking around. Like anywhere that's been freshly landscaped, look at one — man, is that a popcorn tree popping up in the middle of the grass? Birds spread it like crazy."

Hopkins said removing invasive plants while they are young is often the simplest approach because the entire root system can be pulled from the ground. Larger woody plants may require more targeted treatment to prevent them from growing back.

He also encouraged residents to pay attention during winter, when evergreen invasive plants such as camphor trees and privet can be easier to distinguish from dormant native vegetation.

Another plant discussed during the presentation was nonnative honeysuckle. Hopkins said its long history in the region sometimes causes people to assume it belongs here.

"A lot of people think it's native because it's been around forever, and everybody's growing up with honeysuckle," Hopkins said.

Some invasive species may remain relatively unnoticed for years before their populations begin expanding rapidly, Hopkins said. He described this as a "lag period," in which a species can exist in an area for decades before becoming widespread.

Cogongrass was among the most serious threats discussed during the event.

Originally introduced to the Mobile area in the early 1900s and later planted for erosion control and livestock forage, cogongrass spreads primarily through underground rhizomes. It can form dense patches that prevent native plants from growing and reduce usable habitat for wildlife.

The grass also creates concerns for land managers who use prescribed fire to maintain native ecosystems. Its dense buildup of vegetation can fuel hotter and more intense fires than native grasses, Caver said.

"This one scares me the absolute most," Caver said.

Japanese climbing fern can create a similar fire-management problem. The invasive vine climbs from the forest floor into trees, creating what land managers call ladder fuels that can carry flames into the canopy.

Chinese privet presents a different challenge. Introduced as an ornamental hedge, it produces seeds that can be spread by birds and wildlife. Once established, it can form thick stands that displace native understory plants and reduce biodiversity.

Caver and Hopkins emphasized that invasive species management is not limited to parks and conservation areas. Many invasive plants can be found in residential yards, along roadsides and on private property, making cooperation from residents important to controlling their spread.

Caver said the problem will continue to grow unless management extends beyond individual parks and properties.

"It's the generations that follow us that are going to have to deal with this even more than us," Caver said. "The invasives we're fighting aren't going to get any better until everybody across the landscape decides we're going to take care of this."

That makes public education one of the most important tools available, he said. Residents who learn to identify invasive species can address them on their own property and share that information with neighbors.

"Education is the best way," Caver said. "If you can explain to them, show them this booklet, get them on board, then maybe they'll get their neighbor on board."

The message reflected the broader mission of Graham Creek Nature Preserve, where education is a major part of conservation work. Preserve staff work with thousands of children each year while also managing native habitats and conducting prescribed burns.

For Caver, protecting those habitats is a long-term effort that may ultimately matter most to people who have not yet been born.

"My great-great-great-great-grandkids might be able to go to a place like Graham Creek one day and see what it actually was supposed to look like," he said. 

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today.