Invasive Plant Species

Genus species Common Name PAINT Protocol for Control Why Introduced Problem it Causes
Acer ginnala Amur maple Yes physical
Acer platanoides Norway Maple Yes 1762 as ornamental shade tree invades woodlands
Aegopodium podagraria Goutweed, Bishop's weed Yes    
Agropyron repens Quack grass Yes burning, chemical   very aggressive and forms large patches
Ailanthus altissimia Tree-of-heaven Yes physical, chemical 1780's as an ornamental tree develops thickets and displaces vegetation
Albizzia julibrissin Mimosa No      
Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard No burning, cutting, pulling brought to US for cooking and medicine overtakes forests and disturbed habitats
Alnus glutinosa European or Black alder Yes Chemical ornamental tree  
Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator weed Yes      
Ambrosia artemisiifolia common ragweed No physical, chemical    
Ambrosia trifida giant ragweed No physical, chemical    
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Porcelain berry Yes physical, chemical   shades out native vegitation
Arctium minus Common burbock Yes physical, chemical    
Berberis thunbergii Japanese barberry Yes physical, chemical 1800's cultivated in United States shades out understory species
Berberis vulgaris European barberry Yes      
Bromus inermis Smooth brome grass, Austrian brome Yes burning, chemical    
Butomus umbellatus Flowering rush Yes physical ornamental plant, often sold for water gardens  
Cannabis sativa Marijuana No      
Carduus nutans Nodding musk thistle Yes      
Celastrus orbiculatus Oriental or round-leaved bittersweet Yes   brought as an ornamental climbs on trees and shrubs
Centaurea maculosa Spotted knapweed, European star thistle Yes physical, chemical, insect 1890 as contaminant in alfalfa or hay seed has toxin that hinders/prevents growth of species
Cirsium arvense Canada thistle Yes   early 18th century as contaminant of crop seed troublesome weed
Cirsium palustre Marsh plume thistle, Swamp thistle No      
Cirsium vulgare Bull thistle Yes   introduced as a seed contaminant aggressive weed
Conium maculatum Poison hemlock Yes      
Coronilla varia Crown vetch, trailing crown vetch Yes      
Cotoneaster multiflorus Many-flowered cotoneaster Yes      
Daucus carota Queen Anne's lace, Wild carrot Yes physical, chemical    
Dioscorea batatas Chinese yam, Hardy yam, Cinnamon vine, Air potato Yes chemical 1800's as potential food source forms matlike colonies that shade out vegetation
Dipsacus Teasel no      
Dipsacus laciniatus Cut-leaved teasel Yes      
Dipsacus sylvestris Common teasel no      
Echinops sphaerocephalus Globe thistle no      
Egeria densa Common or Brazillian waterweed, elodea Yes      
Elaeagnus Autumn eleagnus no      
Elaeagnus angustifolia Russain olive Yes chemical    
Elaeagnus pungens Thorny olive no      
Elaeagnus umbellatus Yes
Eleaganus umbellata Autumn olive no 1940s planted to provide food shelter for wildlife created thorny thicket
Epilobium hirsutum Hairy willow weed/herb Yes physical, chemical ornemental dense monotypic stands crowd out native species
Euonymous fortunei (Purple) Wintercreeper or Climbing euonymous Yes physical, chemical
Euonymus alatus Burning bush, Winged wahoo, Winged euonymus Yes physical, chemical 1860's as ornamental shrub replaces native shrubs
Euonymus europeaus European spindletree Yes
Euphorbia cyparissias Cypress spurge Yes
Euphorbia esula Leafy spurge no chemical, insect outcompetes other vegetation, produces chemicals
Festuca arundinacea (=F. elatior) Tall fescue Yes burning, chemical forage for livestock erosion control along streams fungus that suppresses growth and animals sick
Festuca pratense Meadow fescue Yes
Festuca pratensis Festuca pratensis no
Glechoma hederacea Ground ivy, Creeping Charlie Yes
Gypophila Baby's breath no physical, chemical, burning brought as an ornamental
Hedera helix English ivy no physical, chemical dense colonies shade out other species
Hemerocallis fulva Tawny daylily Yes
Heracleum manteganzzianum Giant hogweed no physical, chemical
Hesperis matrionalis Dame's rocket yes physical, chemical
Hibiscus syriacus Rose-of-Sharon no
Hippophae Common sea buckthorn no
Hippophae rhamnoides yes
Humulus japonicus Japanese hop no physical, chemical oranmental
Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla no
Hypericum perforatum Common St. Johns-wort Yes burning, physical
Iris pseudacorus Yellow flag or Water-flag iris Yes physical, chemical sold for garden pools
Lespedeza bicolor Shrubby bushclover no
Lespedeza cuneata/Lespedeza sericea Chinese lespedeza, Sericea/Chinese bush clover Yes physical, chemical bank stabilization, soil improvement and forage outcompetes vegitation
Ligustrum Chinese privet no
Ligustrum obtusifolium Border privet, Blunt-leaved privet Yes
Ligustrum vulgare Common privet Yes
Linaria vulgaris Butter-and-eggs Yes physical, chemical sold in wildflower mixes
Lonicera Bush honeysuckle no
Lonicera fragrantissima January jasmine no
Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle Yes physical, burning, chemical 1806 in New York as a landscape plant smothers small trees and shrubs
Lonicera maackii Amur honeysuckle Yes physical, chemical 1896 to North America reduce plant diversity
Lonicera morrowii Morrow's honeysuckle Yes physical, chemical 1800s to United States reduce plant diversity
Lonicera tatarica Tatarian honeysuckle Yes physical, chemical 1700s to United States reduce plant diversity
Lonicera x bella Bell's honeysuckle, Hybrid honeysuckle Yes
Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot trefoil yes
Lysimachia nummularia Moneywort, Creeping Jenny yes physical, burning
Lythrum salicaria Purple lossestrife yes physical, chemical 1800's through nursery trade threatens rare or endangered species
Malus (spp) Crabapples Yes
Melilotus alba White sweet clover yes
Melilotus officinalis Yellow sweet clover Yes
Microstegium vimineum Japanese stilt, Eulalia grass, Camus, Netal grass no physical
Miscanthus Japanese silvergrass, Chinese silvergrass, Pampas no
Miscanthus sacchariflorus Amur silver grass yes
Miscanthus sinensis Zebra grass, Chinese silver grass yes
Miscanthus sinensis purpurescens flame grass no
Morus alba white mulberry yes chemical to set up silkworm industry
Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian water milfoil yes
Najus minor Bushy pondweed, Brittle naiad no
Nasturtium officinale Watercress yes physical used medicinally
Nymphoides peltata Yellow floating heart yes
Pastinaca sativa Wild parsnip yes
Paulownia tomentosa Princess tree, Royal paulownia no physical, chemical 1830's as an ornamental tree maintenance problems on roads
Perilla frutescens Common perilla no
Phalaris arundinacea Reed canary grass yes physical, chemical, burning forage value smothers native wetland species
Phalaris canariensis canary grass no
Phragmites australis common reed yes
Poa compressa canada bluegrass yes turf and forage
Poa pratensis kentucky bluegrass yes turf and forage outcompete native prairie grasses
Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese knotweed, Japanese bamboo, Mexican bamboo yes ornamental
Polygonum perfoliatum Mile-a-minute weed, Asiatic tearthumb yes physcial, chemical covers and kills shrubs and other vegetation
Polygonum sachalinense Sakhalian knotweed yes
Populus alba white poplar yes physical, chemical, burning introduced as a landscape and street plant drops twigs and limbs
Populus tremuloides Quaking aspen no
Portulaca oleracea Purslane yes
Potamogeton crispus Curlyleaf pondweed no chemical shades out slower growing native plants
Potentilla argentea Silvery cinquefoil yes
Prunus mahaleb Mahaleb cherry yes
Pueraria lobata=P. montana Kudzu yes chemical, burning livestock forage crop control agricultural erosion displaces native plants
Pyrus calleryana Bradford pear, Korean pear yes ornamental tree
Quercus acutissima sawtooth oak no physical, chemical shade tree and wildlife food
Rhamnus Buckthorns no
Rhamnus arguta Saw-toothed buckthorn no
Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn yes
Rhamnus davurica Dahurian buckthorn no
Rhamnus frangula Alder, Smooth, Glossy buckthorn, tall hedge no
Rhamnus japonica Japanese buckthorn no
Rhamnus utilis Chinese buckthorn no
Rhus glabra Smooth sumac no
Robinia pseudo-acacia Black locust yes physical, chemical useful wood, nitrogen fixing ability and flowers displace native vegetation, seeds toxic
Rorippa sylvestris Creeping yellow-cress no
Rosa multiflora Multiflora rose, Japanese rose yes chemical, burning 1950's wildlife cover, living fence, and food invades agricultural lands, pastures
Rumex acetosella Garden sorrel no
Saponaria officinalis Bouncing bet, Soapwort Yes physical planted as ornamental used to make soapy leather
Setaria faberi Japanese bristlegrass Yes
Solanum dulcamara bittersweet no
Solanum viarum Tropical soda apple no
Sonchus arvensis Field sow-thistle, Perennial sowthistle no
Sorghum almum Columbus grass no
Sorghum halepense Johnson grass yes
Spiraea japonica Japanese spiraea yes
Trapa natans Water chestnut yes
Ulmus pumila Siberian elm yes
Valeriana officinalis Common valerian yes
Verbascum thapsus Flannel mullein yes
Viburnum lantana Wayfaring tree no
Viburnum opulus European highbush cranberry yes chemical
Vinca minor Periwinkle or Myrtle yes chemical, physical medicinal herb and aphrodisiac crowds out native herbaceous vegetation
Vincetoxicum Black swallowwort no
Vincetoxicum rossicum Swallow-wort no physical, chemical, burning outcompeting native wildflowers and young trees
Wisteria sinensis Chinese wisteria yes


*PAINT: Plants Available In Nursery Trade
Compiled from various lists by Marissa Jernegan