Skaneateles Conservation Area/Invasive species/Viburnum opulus

<< Moderately invasive plants at the SCA

Viburnum opulus (cranberrybush)
Viburnum opulus (highbush cranberry or cranberrybush viburnum) has two varieties that are similar in appearance and may both be present at the Skaneateles Conservation Area (SCA).
 * Viburnum opulus var. opulus (Guelder rose or European cranberrybush)
 * Viburnum opulus var. americanum (highbush cranberry or American cranberrybush)

Even though the New York Flora Atlas only lists American cranberrybush in Onondaga County, we have only found European cranberrybush at the SCA and other nearby natural areas. Even the highbush cranberry that the New York State nursery sent with its wildlife packet and was planted in the windbreak is the European variety of cranberrybush, which New York lists as moderately invasive, and it seems to be spreading at the SCA.

Invasiveness ranking for Viburnum opulus var. opulus (Guelder rose)
Guelder rose or European cranberry bush (Viburnum opulus var. opulus) received an invasiveness score of 53/79 = 67.09%, which equates to a rank of Moderately Invasive. This plant is therefore not regulated by New York State law.

1. Ecological impact (13/30)
1.1. Impact on Natural Ecosystem Processes and System-Wide Parameters: Unknown


 * Studies on the impacts to ecosystem processes and system-wide parameters are not known.

1.2. Impact on Natural Community Structure: Influences structure in one layer. (3/10)
 * In the Northeast, it can increase the density of the shrub layer.
 * No evidence of significant or major alteration of structure.

1.3. Impact on Natural Community Composition: Influences community composition (3/10)

1.4. Impact on other species or species groups: Moderate impact (7/10)

2. Biological characteristics and dispersal ability (16/22)
2.1. Mode and rate of reproduction: Abundant reproduction (4/4)

2.2. Innate potential for long-distance dispersal: Numerous opportunities (4/4)

2.3. Potential to be spread by human activities: Moderate (2/4)

2.4. Characteristics that increase competitive advantage: Two or more (6/6)

2.5. Growth vigor: Does not form thickets nor have a climbing or smothering growth habit (0/2)

2.6. Germination/Regeneration: Unknown (0/0)

2.7. Other species in the genus invasive in New York or elsewhere: No (0/3) → Yes (3/3)

The following Viburnum species were listed as invasive, but not assessed until shortly after Guelder rose. These all appear to be present in the LISMA PRISM.
 * Siebold’s viburnum (Viburnum sieboldii) is listed with a score of 62.50% (Moderate)
 * Linden arrowwood (Viburnum dilatatum) is listed with a score of 57.14% (Moderate)
 * Wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) is listed with a score of 53.75% (Moderate)
 * Tea viburnum (Viburnum setigerum) is listed with a score of 41.25% (Low)

3. Ecological amplitude and distribution (21/21)
3.1. Density of stands in natural areas in the northeastern USA and eastern Canada

3.2. Number of habitats the species may invade

3.3. Role of disturbance in establishment

3.4. Climate in native range

3.5. Current introduced distribution in the northeastern USA and eastern Canada

3.6. Current introduced distribution of the species in natural areas in the 8 NY PRISMs

4. Difficulty of control (3/6)
4.1. Seed banks

4.2. Vegetative regeneration

4.3. Level of effort required