Warrick Invasive Species Partnership (WISP) is a local working group consisting of citizens and organizations within the county coming together to bring awareness of the damage that invasive species cause to our environment, health, and economy. This group focuses on invasive plant identification and detection, removal, as well as learning about healthier native options.
This group is welcome to any and all! To join simply join us at one of our regular meetings or events or fill out a contact form below if you have questions.
This group is welcome to any and all! To join simply join us at one of our regular meetings or events or fill out a contact form below if you have questions.
upcoming 2023 Weed wrangles:
- April 22 (Earth Day), location TBD
- May 20, Lynnville Park
- June or July TBD, Bluegrass FWA - Purple Loosestrife Pull
- October 7, Castle North Middle School
Break up with your Burning Bush
WISP is trying to help combat the spread of Burning Bush in our county with a bounty on the shrubs. If you have a burning bush growing on your property, if you cut it down and send proof you will get a native shrub to replace it with.
Burning bush was introduced to the United States in the 1860s from China, Japan, and Korea. It is still commonly planted for its beautiful red fall foliage and as a dense hedgerow. It was documented escaping cultivation and establishing in natural areas in the 1970s. Despite knowing its invasive habits it is still a popular landscaping shrub.
Burning bush, winged euonymus, or winged burning bush is easy to identify, especially in the fall. The stems have corky ridges or wings that grow out from the stem. The leaves and branches grow opposite of each other. Leaves are widest at the middle and taper to each end. Leaves turn a brilliant red in the fall. Burning bush produces greenish-yellow flowers in the spring to early summer and red to orange fleshy seeds in the fall.
Burning bush was introduced to the United States in the 1860s from China, Japan, and Korea. It is still commonly planted for its beautiful red fall foliage and as a dense hedgerow. It was documented escaping cultivation and establishing in natural areas in the 1970s. Despite knowing its invasive habits it is still a popular landscaping shrub.
Burning bush, winged euonymus, or winged burning bush is easy to identify, especially in the fall. The stems have corky ridges or wings that grow out from the stem. The leaves and branches grow opposite of each other. Leaves are widest at the middle and taper to each end. Leaves turn a brilliant red in the fall. Burning bush produces greenish-yellow flowers in the spring to early summer and red to orange fleshy seeds in the fall.
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Burning bush can quickly spread and invade natural areas. Burning bush can tolerate conditions from full sun to full shade. Birds eat the fruits, spreading seeds to neighboring natural areas. The dense growth of this shrub quickly shade out smaller native plant species leading to a monocultural understory. Deer prefer foraging on native species, which reduces native competition for the burning bush.
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WISP will replace any burning bush that residents of Warrick County remove from their property up to 5 bushes. Landowners wanting to participate should call Warrick SWCD office (812) 897-2840 ext. 3 to sign up. Document the bush and it being removed. A native shrub will be given to the landowner to replace the burning bush. Native species that will be available are Eastern Wahoo, Buttonbush, Fragrant Sumac, and Red Osier Dogwood.
Eastern Wahoo
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Buttonbush
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Fragrant Sumac
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Red Osier Dogwood
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Resources on invasive species
- Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes Collaborative
- Field Guide to Invasives - Michigan State University