All but a few human cultures have been on the move for thousands of years, exploring and expanding territory and changing the areas they inhabit by selecting, clearing and using natural resources. When moving from one region to another, people introduce new plant species — either on purpose or accidentally. A telling quote from renowned South Carolina botanist Wade Batson is, “Plants are where you find them, and they do get around!”

Hundreds of years ago, European expansion to the Americas introduced several thousand species of plants that now are part of our non-native “naturalized” flora. Some of those plants, such as white clover (Trifolium repens) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis), were deliberately brought for livestock food and/or medicine and have long settled in as benign additions to the landscape.

Others, such as “privet hedge” (Chinese privet, Ligustrum sinensis, and Japanese privet, Ligustrum japonicum) were brought to America for use as neatly trimmed shrubs to surround homes and gardens. Privets behave well when trimmed regularly but when left on their own, they grow tall, bloom and make fruit, which birds eat and then defecate the seeds as they fly long distances. Privet seed germinates readily. Its plants are hardy, they become established easily, and they form dense thickets.

Neatly trimmed privet, therefore, can transform into a veritable enemy which crowds out desirable native plants, disrupts natural habitats and reduces plant biodiversity. Originally introduced here as a “guest,” this plant is now a serious pest in natural areas throughout the South. And, like a guest who overstays her welcome, it is very difficult to uproot.

This story is repeated many times over, for lots of other invasive plant species.

“How to Know and Recognize the Enemy” is the intriguing title of a hands-on workshop to be held in Clemson on March 29, at the statewide symposium of the South Carolina Native Plant Society. The workshop will cover identification and management of invasive plant species commonly used in landscaping or recommended for wildlife habitat and erosion control in our region.

Presenting the workshop will be Sudie Daves, a biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and chair for the Non-Native Invasive Species Plant List created by the South Carolina Exotic Plant Pest Council. Ms. Daves will feature specimens of many species listed in the newly revised brochure on non-native invasive plants of South Carolina. The list categorizes 54 plant species as “severe” or “serious” threats, and 32 species as “watch” because of their potential to become serious or severe threats.

So, given the problem, what is a conscientious property owner to do?

Whenever a piece of property is developed, usually it loses its native plants (partly to completely) to the chainsaw and bulldozer. Unfortunately, a number of replacement plants routinely sold for home and commercial landscaping are species that have already become “invasive” or have demonstrated a potential to become invasive.

These include English ivy, Japanese privet (Ligustrum), monkey grass (liriope), vinca, nandina, Asian wisteria and Bradford pear. Already Bradford pear trees are blooming here, and wisteria will soon begin blooming, as well. Both are showy examples of invasive “escapes.”

To be part of the solution instead of the problem, you can educate yourself about which plants are invasive and how to identify them. Then, resist the temptation to buy them.

If you already have invasive plants on your property, remove them or at least be careful to keep them under control so they don’t spread.

Also, learn about native plants and the advantages they offer in a home landscape (things such as less fertilizer, less water, etc.). Plant native species in your yard, and encourage neighbors and landscapers to do the same. There are numerous Web sites and books about native plants. The weekend-long symposium at Clemson will include an evening address by Colston Burrell, a nationally known native plant expert and landscape architect, who will speak about native alternatives to invasive species.

The S.C. Native Plant Society works in cooperation with the S.C. Exotic Plant Pest Council to increase awareness of and assist with eradication and control of invasive exotic plant species. But the front line of this war is right in your own backyard.

Dr. Jan Haldeman is professor emerita of biology at Erskine College. She lives in Due West. A version of this article first appeared in the newsletter of the Upstate chapter of the S.C. Native Plant Society.