Which species take advantage of rights of way?

The ground within a right of way that plants can grow in is frequently disturbed through general use and maintenance activities. Plants that grow in a right of way are adapted to these frequent disturbances. Often these plants are the early colonizers after floods or fires. When a plant hitch-hikes on car tires, equipment, gravel, or in plant seed it can take root on the roadside. In some instances, we used to plant species because they were adapted to roadsides, and later we found out they are actually invasive. Some of the roadside invasive plants are problems for agriculture as they are adapted to the frequent disturbances associated with planting, harvesting, or grazing animals. Other roadside weeds are habitat generalists meaning they grow in a variety of different conditions. A habitat generalist may grow and spread along roadsides only to spread to wetlands or stream sides.

Reed Canarygrass

Reed canarygrass is able to grow and spread along roadsides, but is highly adapted to wet soils. When roads intersect with wetlands, or rivers reed canarygrass can spread to these areas where it is considered problematic. [Image credit: National Parks Service]