Category: Plants

Retirees and warm-weather seekers aren’t the only ones clamoring to move to the state of South Carolina. The Palmetto State is also under extreme pressure from invasive insects and plants that could devastate its agriculture industry and forests. In fact, a recent global report estimates that invasive species cause countries $423 billion a year in damage to crops, water, forests, wildlife, and more.

In this episode of Earthly, Jonathan talks to Steven Long about South Carolina’s fight against invasives.

Long is assistant director of a state program that works with Clemson Cooperative Extension Agents, researchers and other state and federal agencies to battle insects, plants and plant diseases that are already here or are trying their best to get here.

He gives an update on some notorious invaders we’re currently battling, and others that we’re trying to keep out.

Transcript

SHOW NOTES

Giant African Land Snail

Spotted Lanternfly

Box Tree Moth

Clemson Department of Plant Industry

When Bob Wells and Mel Tormé penned “The Christmas Song” in 1945 and the Nat King Cole Trio recorded it in 1946, “Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire/Jack Frost nipping at your nose,” became a Christmas tradition.

Now as our attention turns to the holidays, it’s worth remembering that the American Chestnut tree that once dominated Southern Appalachian forests is gone. One recent article said that it numbered in the billions throughout its range. The tree was both ecologically and economically important. But a fungal pathogen that was introduced to North America caused a chestnut blight and destroyed the once-magnificent trees.

Today on Earthly Jonathan talks to forest ecologist Don Hagan.

Hagan is going to tell us about the history of the American Chestnut, its once-important role in our ecology and economy, how it died, and the heroic efforts being taken to bring it back from extinction.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

SHOW NOTES

American Chestnut Foundation

What it takes to bring back the American Chestnut Trees

HGIC: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Native American Ethnobotany Database

South Carolina lawmakers passed legislation to have the Venus Flytrap named the state’s official carnivorous plant. The law places the plant in a category that includes the state bird (the Carolina Wren), state flower (the yellow jasmine), state fruit (the peach), state tree (the palmetto), and even the state snack (the boiled peanut).

On this episode of Earthly, Jonathan talks to Trent Miller, plant collection manager at the South Carolina Botanical Garden. Trent talks about the flytrap and why it grows natively in only one small sliver of the Carolinas. He also talks about other plants that are unique to the Palmetto State.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Additional Resources

What is an Oconee Bell?

What is a Carolina Bay?

Home & Garden Information Center

South Carolina Botanical Garden

Snap! Venus fly trap fans ask South Carolina to honor plant