The Virginian-Pilot
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Selling and transporting a tough plant from Asia that crowds out native species is now illegal in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and the Eastern Shore.
State agriculture officials on Monday announced a quarantine on beach vitex, which environmental officials discovered recently in Sandbridge and last year on Willoughby Spit in Norfolk.
"It's a step in the right direction, but it's a long, involved process," said Cheryl Petticrew, a Sandbridge resident working to eradicate the woody, fast-growing plant that thrives on sand dunes.
Beach vitex, dubbed "coastal kudzu," is already banned in North Carolina and South Carolina, where it ravaged dunes and created barriers for nesting sea turtles.
Some residents in Sandbridge planted it as an ornamental shrub because it's one of the few plants that grows at the beach. It has waxy green leaves and small purple flowers in the summer.
The restriction is temporary until the board of the state's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services considers a permanent ban at its December meeting, said Del. Barry Knight of Virginia Beach, who pushed for the quarantine.
For now, officials are telling people who have beach vitex to leave it alone.
"You don't want to cut the plant or move the seeds, and you especially don't want to dig it up because that will lead to dispersal," said Cal Schiemann, the Beach's agricultural extension agent. "It's the wrong time of year to do anything. The plant is going into dormancy."
In spring, herbicide can be applied to the plant with a brush after its bark is scraped off, he said.
The city is working to identify beach vitex locations, said Clay Bernick, environmental manager. The next step will be to develop an eradication plan for public land, he said. It's not clear if there will be funding to remove it from private property.
Violating the quarantine is a Class I misdemeanor, said Elaine Lidholm, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
"We normally get voluntary compliance," she said.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@ pilotonline.com
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Invasive species
Many years ago, when I lived in Fla, someone planted water hyacinth in a canal behind their house. To this day, Fla has to spend millions, using specialized underwater mowers to clear the canals throughout the area. Usually there is a reason why a plant doesn't grow naturally in a specific ares. Bamboo comes to mind, also. I think, though I don't know for sure, that Phragmites is an imported species also.
Ivy
A long time ago someone planted ivy around the back perimeter of the property next door. You know what has happened since then. It climbs along whatever fence, tree, or plant that it gets near. I am constantly cutting it back away from my property, dumping stuff on it (not naming this stuff) and also trying to help the widow behind me to keep it under control in her yard. I don't believe that you can ever get rid of this stuff completely, but I suppose I'll continue to fight it as long as I can.
Dozens of Invasive Plant Species Flood the Region
It is without doubt that the many of the Pilot's readers have in their yards, plant types considered to be invasive, or not native to the area. Coastal Vitex is only the iceberg's tip. References readily available on-line and probably from the VaTech Extension Service identify those plant types by name. Homeowners want absolute beauty in their yards throughout the year. Unless one is an strict purist and desires the basic vegetation of this part of Virginia, all local plant centers and nurseries will stock what their customers want and have seen in publications, on TV, or on travels that may occur. Dune protection and stabilization - do not be easily fooled that any one plant, or groups of plants will prevent coastal erosion. Without a significant and undisturbed primary dune line in-place, coastal erosion will continue unabated in spite of man's best intentions. In the 'Bridge, the primary dune line has long since vanished, now lying flat beneath roadways, homes, and other invasive structures - deal with that before the flood.
Not moving it?
I can fully understand a ban on the sale of this plant, but the not moving it comment makes no sense. I think that this is a case of poor writing as opposed to poor planning. I would hope the ban on "moving" it just means that it can't be transplanted, but if so that is what this should say.
Not moving it could also be taken as meaning not REmoving it, as in pulling it up and disposing of it (preferably in a burn barrel.)
Not that I would be interested in planting this stuff on my land, but I sure wish someone from the media would have spoken with Del. Lewis about this edict on his district by a Del from Virginia Beach.
Not moving it could also be taken as meaning not REmoving it
That is exactly what was SAID. "You don't want to cut the plant or move the seeds, and you especially don't want to dig it up because that will lead to dispersal," said Cal Schiemann, the Beach's agricultural extension agent. "It's the wrong time of year to do anything. The plant is going into dormancy."
hmmm....
I lived down in Sandbridge for quite a few years and finally moved out about 10 years ago. I went back down there last year and was shocked to see a different, horribly ugly invasive species that looked like it was well ingrained at the entrance and south end and ready to take over the whole area called condominiums.
Unfortunate
Sorry folks, while working for a local engineering firm, we surveyed most of those now condo properties. I offer my sincerest apologies as we knew not what travesty we released upon the 'Bridge.
Another invasive species
Vitex is just another in a long list of invasive species people have brought into this country 'because it looks nice'. They do this without THINKING about the impact it might have on the environment. If there ever was evidence of people being ignorant and selfish, this sort of behavior is it. Now it is going to cost all of us to irradicate it. When our taxes have to go up or something else isn't accomplished because of the cost of the irradication project, there will definitely be some people to blame and sue in this case.
BVTF
Beach Vitex Task Force...o.k.
Just visit the task force website and answers will be found.
And what will be done?
And what will be done about those property owners down at the beach who stated it looks good and they will keep using it on their property?