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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 botanical name | Click here to view by common name

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | KL | M | N | OP | QR | S | T | U | VWXYZ

- A -

Acer platanoides, Norway maple

Ailanthus altissima, Tree-of-heaven

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, Porcelainberry vine

Ardisia elliptica, Shoebutton ardisia

Arundo donax, Giant reed

- B -

Berberis thunbergii, Japanese barberry

Bischofia javanica, Bishopwood

Broussonetia papyrifera, Paper mulberry

- C -

Carpobrotus edulis, Ice plant

Casuarina equisetifolia, Australian pine

Celastrus orbiculatus, Oriental bittersweet

Centaurea cyanus, Bachelor's button

Coronilla varia, Crown vetch

Cortaderia jubata, C. selloana, Pampas grass

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

Crataegus monogyna, Singleseed hawthorne

Cupaniopsis anacardiodes, Carrotwood

Cynara cardunculus, Cardoon

Cytisus scoparius, Scotch broom

- D -

Digitalis purpurea, Foxglove

- E -

Eichhornia crassipes, Water hyacinth

Elaeagnus angustifolia, Russian olive (view image)

Elaeagnus umbellata, Autumn olive

Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus

Euonymus alatus, Winged euonymus

Euonymus fortunei, Wintercreeper

- F -

Fallopia japonica (Polygonum cuspidatum), Japanese knotweed

Festuca arundinacea, Tall fescue

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

- G -

Gypsophila paniculata, Baby's breath

- H -

Hedera helix, English ivy

Hesperis matronalis, Dame's rocket

- I -

Ilex aquifolium, English holly

Imperata cylindrica, Japanese blood grass

- J -

Jasminum dichotomum, J. fluminense, Jasmine vine

- KL -

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

Lonicera japonica, Japanese honeysuckle vine (view image)

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

Lotus corniculatus, Bird's foot trefoil

Lygodium japonicum, Japanese climbing fern (view image)

Lythrum salicaria, Purple loosestrife

- M -

Melaleuca quinquenervia, Melaleuca

Melia azedarach, Chinaberry

Merremia tuberosa, Wood rose

Myoporum laetum, Myoporum

- N -

Nandina domestica, Nandina

- OP -

Paulownia tomentosa, Princess tree (view image)

Phalaris arundinacea, Reed canary grass

Populus alba, White aspen

Potentilla recta, Potentilla

- QR -

Rhamnus frangula, R. cathartica, Buckthorn

Robinia pseudoacacia, Black locust

Rosa multiflora, Multiflora rose (view image)

- S -

Sapium sebiferum, Chinese tallow tree

Scaevola sericea, Scaevola

Schefflera actinophylla, Umbrella tree

Schinus terebinthifolius, Brazilian pepper tree

Spiraea japonica, Japanese spiraea

- T -

Tamarix ramosissim, T. chinensis, T. parviflora, Tamarisk

Taxus cuspidata, Yew

- U -

Ulmus pumila, Siberian elm

- VWXYZ -

Viburnum opulus var. opulus, European cranberry bush

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