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The Worst Invasives in the U.S.

The following plants used horticulturally are among the worst invasive species degrading natural areas in the continental United States. For more information about these plants, see the Brooklyn Botanic Garden handbook Invasive Plants: Weeds of the Global Garden.

Note: This list includes only plants that are already causing major problems in natural areas. For more information on how to gauge whether a plant you may want to grow is potentially invasive, see "What Every Gardener Needs to Know About Invasives."

Sorted by common name | Click here to view by botanical name

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | HI | J | KLM | N | O | PQ | R | S | T | U | V | W | XYZ

- A -

Amur maple, Acer ginnala

Australian pine, Casuarina equisetifolia

Autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata

- B -

Baby's breath, Gypsophila paniculata

Bachelor's button, Centaurea cyanus

Bird's foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus

Bishopwood, Bischofia javanica

Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia

Brazilian pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius

Buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula, R. cathartica

Bush honeysuckle, Lonerica maackii, L. tatarica, L. morowii

- C -

Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus

Carrotwood, Cupaniopsis anacardiodes

Chinaberry tree, Melia azedarach

Chinese tallow tree, Sapium sebiferum

Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster microphyllus, C. pannosus, C. lacteus

Crown vetch, Coronilla varia

- D -

Dame's rocket, Hesperis matronalis

- E -

Earleaf acacia, Acacia auriculiformis

English ivy, Hedera helix

English holly, Ilex aquifolium

Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus globulus

European cranberry bush, Viburnum opulus var. opulus

- F -

Figs, Ficus altissima, F. benghalensis, F. microcarpa

Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea

- G -

Giant reed, Arundo donax

- HI -

Ice plant, Carpobrotus edulis

- J -

Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii

Japanese blood grass, Imperata cylindrica

Japanese climbing fern, Lygodium japonicum (view image)

Japanese honeysuckle vine, Lonicera japonica (view image)

Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica, (Polygonum cuspidatum)

Japanese spiraea, Spiraea japonica

Jasmine vine, Jasminum dichotomum, J. fluminense

- KLM -

Melaleuca, Melaleuca quinquenervia

Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora (view image)

Myoporum, Myoporum laetum

- N -

Nandina, Nandina domestica

Norway maple, Acer platanoides

- O -

Oriental bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus

- PQ -

Pampas grass, Cortaderia jubata, C. selloana

Paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera

Porcelainberry, Ampelopsis brevipedunculata

Potentilla, Potentilla recta

Princess tree, Paulownia tomentosa (view image)

Privet, Ligustrum japonicum, L. sinense, L. vulgare (view image)

Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria

- R -

Reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea

Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia (view image)

- S -

Scaevola, Scaevola sericea

Scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius

Shoebutton ardisia, Ardisia elliptica

Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila

Singleseed hawthorne, Crataegus monogyna

- T -

Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea

Tamarisk, Tamarix ramosissima, T. chinensis, T. parviflora

Tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima

- U -

Umbrella tree, Schefflera actinophylla

- V -

Vinca, Vinca major, V. minor

- W -

Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes

White aspen, Populus alba

Winged euonymus, Euonymus alatus

Wintercreeper, Euonymus fortunei

Wood rose, Merremia tuberosa

- XYZ -

Yew, Taxus cuspidata

Sorted by common name | Click here to view by botanical name