Alan Hopefl of Kirkwood, who has earned a nickname as the “Honeysuckle Slayer,” said he cannot understand why any state legislator would support nurseries selling harmful invasive plants.
by Don Corrigan
This past fall youngsters volunteered with Back To Nature STL to hack out invasive bush honeysuckle in St. Louis suburbs. Volunteers have an uphill fight, in part, because state nurseries continue to sell invasive plants.
“Volunteers can take heart now because there is legislation in Jefferson City to stop the sale of these plants,” said Bonnie Harper of Open Space St. Louis, which had 45 “Honeysuckle Hack” events in 2024 with its Back To Nature STL program.
“Honeysuckle Hack” events had their origin under the Open Space Council in Kirkwood, an organization renamed as Open Space St. Louis with a new headquarters in Sunset Hills. Regardless of name or headquarters location, the hacking continues.
“We have ‘Honeysuckle Hack’ events scheduled to summer now, with the most recent in January at Jefferson Barracks,” said Harper. “Hacking out invasives is labor intensive work, so it’s great to learn that the legislature may end their sale at nurseries.”
Rep. Bruce Sassmann, R-Bland, is sponsor of HB60. Sassman said honeysuckle hackers should take heart, but he said his proposed law is just a small step in the right direction on a big problem.
“Every day invasive species are threatening the health of our nation’s vital agricultural and natural lands,“ said Sassman. “Forests are being infested, cropland production is being impacted, streams are being impacted, wildlife is losing habitat.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines an invasive species as one whose introduction causes economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to human health.
