Johnsongrass Invading a Meadow Planting in Hillside Park, Newark, DE
Photo of Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) is invading this meadow planting in Hillside Park in Newark, DE. This meadow, in a bottomland habitat around a pond, was planted with shorter species adapted to a drier climate and conditions, such as hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) and lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata). Species like this are often chosen due to their showy flowers and shorter size, even if they are not ideally suited to the site. Predictably, the site was invaded by taller plants. Had the meadow been planted with taller species native to bottomlands in this region, the johnsongrass might not have been able to invade. Note that the native tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) has also colonized this site.
