Sometimes even those concerned about the environment don’t want to see green. Just ask Betty Lamb and Dave Turbeson, two Plymouth residents who rally their neighbors to battle the invasive buckthorn shrub. When the leaves of other trees and shrubs have turned color or fallen, buckthorn is still sporting its summery green leaves.

Although buckthorn’s ability to keep its leaves late into the fall is one of the reasons it out-competes other trees, Plymouth Forestry Technician Lara Newberger hopes it may also be part the plant’s demise. She speculates that the still-green leaves of the buckthorn will help people identify – and then remove – the invaders.

Lamb, known to some as “Buckthorn Betty,” has been organizing the fight against buckthorn in the Mapledel/Maplecrest neighborhoods for a number of years. This was the first year for Turbeson, who worked with his neighbors to tackle the buckthorn invading the woods near Oakwood Elementary School. The still-green buckthorn was a call to arms for these groups as they battled the invader to protect area woodlands.

Buckthorn is one of the most invasive species found in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources web site. It is a problem because it out-competes other plants for nutrients, light and moisture; degrades wildlife habitat; threatens the future of forests, wetlands and prairies; contributes to erosion by shading out other forest floor plants; is a host to other pests; and lacks natural controls that would curb its growth and spread.

The City of Plymouth supports the neighborhood efforts to fight buckthorn by providing tools to tackle the plant and by hauling away and disposing of the buckthorn. Newberger praised the citizens who took time out of their weekends this fall to pull, cut and treat the buckthorn. “They have made some real strides this year,” she said.

Newberger encourages others to join these groups in the fight against buckthorn. “Look around in the next couple of weeks for the telltale green of buckthorn,” she said. “Then become the ‘Buckthorn Betty, Bob or Beverly’ of your neighborhood park.” she added.

Find out more about how to join in the battle against buckthorn at plymouthmn.gov/buckthorn.