Action | Amend noxious weed list |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 12/8/2023 |
In Scott County, VA and neighboring Lee and Russell Counties, Miscanthus sinensis (and other Miscanthus species and cultivars, including the "sterile" M. x giganteus) are rapidly turning some of the most diverse grassland ecosystems full of S1 and S2 species into huge monocultures. They're fire-adapted, quick to reach sexual maturity, grow rapidly even in edaphic soils, and produce tens of thousands of wind- and bird-dispersed seeds per year. Unlike some other plants on this list, I continue to see many nurseries continue to sell them. The DCR, former and current NHP employees, and nonprofits that work on grassland restoration can all provide additional information on the economic and ecological cost of Miscanthus. Please list Miscanthus as invasive/nuisance plants.