U of M announces top 10 plants that changed Minnesota

CHANHASSEN, Minn. — The University of Minnesota has issued a list of the top 10 plants that have changed Minnesota and how its people live today.

After considering more than 100 nominations, a panel of experts gleaned the final list. Plants were judged by their impacts — positive and negative — in six areas: environmental, economic or industrial, cultural or spiritual, historical, sustenance, and landscape.

They decided the top 10 plants that changed Minnesota are: alfalfa, the American elm, the apple, corn, purple loosestrife, soybeans, turf and lawn grass, wheat, the white pine, and wild rice.

Plants that didn't make the list but that received a lot of discussion included: buckthorn, Eurasian milfoil, hostas, grapes, potatoes and sugar beets.

The list kicks off a year-long statewide educational campaign by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

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Online:

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: http://www.arboretum.umn.edu

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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