​The Midwest Invasive Plant Network is excited to announce a major update to its free mobile app, Landscape Alternatives. Developed in partnership with the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health and originally launched in 2012, Landscape Alternatives has since been downloaded thousands of times. It is designed to help homeowners identify invasive plants that might be lurking in their yards, water gardens or aquariums, or at the nearest big-box store, and choose suitable, non-invasive substitutes. These substitutes - the alternatives - are matched by ornamental features shared in common with the invasive plant. Similar to the original app, we developed the new content with help from Midwestern stakeholders from different backgrounds, including representatives from nurseries, botanical gardens and arboreta, and conservation organizations. Version 2 of Landscape Alternatives is available for free today from the Apple app store and Google Play store. Note: We recommend connection to a Wi-Fi network to download.
New version highlights:
More content

• New profiles and photos for 10 woody invasives and 8 aquatic invasives
• New profiles and photos for over 60 alternatives

Stronger focus on natives

• 80% of recommended alternatives are U.S. native species
• Native alternatives now appear at the top
• Added native range information for all alternatives

Better pictures

• High-quality photos from a variety of sources highlight alternatives’ best ornamental features
• Photos were improved for all species in the app - not just the new material
• Photos are integrated into the app for easy access, even offline

MIPN staff will be hosting a free webinar on Landscape Alternatives including a live demo on both iOS and Android on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 1PM Central, 2PM Eastern. Register for free today!
 
This project was funded in part by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative via U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cooperative agreement GL-00E02212. The recommendations of the app are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.