Maine is home to approximately 1,500 native plant species. Because of its varied climate and terrain, Maine has a diverse range of habitats, making it possible for many varieties of plant life to thrive in regions best suited for their growth. Maine has also been the site of the introduction of many non-native plant species, some of which can be devastating to its native habitats.
Native plant species are those that are either indigenous to the state of Maine or have arrived to the state without any human intervention. Native plants have developed in correlation to the needs of the particular landscape. They serve several functions such as providing food and habitat to local wildlife as well as resources and nutrients to other plant and animal species. Common native trees that form the structure of a habitat include red oaks, evergreens, white pines and eastern hemlocks. Some of the plants that provide food to wildlife include the fruiting shrubs such as winterberry, gray dogwood and chokeberry.
While not all non-native plants act as a threat to the native species, some can be terribly detrimental to habitats. According to Lois Berg Stack, an ornamental horticulture specialist at the University of Maine, if left unchecked, non-natives can aid in the extinction of some plant species. Some of the more serious pests among the non-native plant species introduced in Maine include the Asian honeysuckle, the Japanese barberry and the purple loosestrife.
The Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) within the state's Department of Conservation is constantly monitoring plant species within the state considered to be highly vulnerable to loss. Through rigorous documentation, historical analysis and field surveys, the MNAP has compiled a list of the known plant species to be in danger of declining or decimated populations. Some of the plants among the dozens on the 2010 endangered list include the scarlet oak, Aleutian maiden hair fern, moonwort and New England reed grass.
As of August 2009, there are several invasive pests and diseases threatening several of Maine's native plant species. The Department of Agriculture received a $75,000 grant to train specialists and conduct outreach programs to the public. Information was provided about the Asian longhorned beetle population, a pest that is responsible for the destruction of thousands of trees in nearby states and is spreading. Other pests and diseases threatening plant life in Maine include the fall webworm, the gypsy moth and ash anthracnose, a disease infecting ash tree populations.
There are a few plants that should be avoided when you garden in Maine. While most nursery plants are not invasive, there are some that have proven devastating to native species when they get out of control. Avoid the Japanese barberry, which has been spread throughout Maine's forests and wetlands from birds spreading its seeds. Also avoid gardening with purple loosestrife, which can become extremely difficult to eradicate. A single plant can produce approximately 3 million seeds and grow easily.
