It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Each day this week we’ll highlight an invasive species that we struggle with here in Camden County.
Today’s plant is another nemesis with red berries — nandina. Nandina is an evergreen plant with red berries that spreads aggressively and displaces native plant communities. In addition to its invasive properties, its berries contain cyanide and are poisonous. Songbirds can be killed by consuming these berries, especially species that tend to gorge on a food source such as the cedar waxwing. There have been cases of entire flocks of cedar waxwings dying from nandina berry consumption. If you’re looking for an evergreen plant with red berries, please consider one of our native hollies which provide great habitat and food for wildlife. If you have this plant, please get rid of it! If you have questions about this plant, how to get rid of it, or what to replace it with please contact me at 912-576-3219 or jkwarren@uga.edu.
