A very small number of nonnative plants have become highly invasive and destructive. These are plants that have been accidentally or deliberately introduced by people. The natural controls, such as disease and insects, that normally kept these plants “in check” in their homeland do not exist here. This gives these invasive plants an advantage, making it easy for them to grow out of control and take over the habitat of other plants. These invasions affect native wildlife and insects, too. The balance and diversity of our mountain environment will decline if these invasive plants continue to spread.
Some of the invasive plants in Asheville considered most destructive are:
Japanese honeysuckle
Japanese spirea
Chinese Silvergrass
Tree of heaven
Oriental bittersweet
Privet
