Invasive Plants
What's an invasive plant?
"An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health."
- USGS.gov FactsThis guide from Mass Audubon is a great resource that identifies these plants, explains the threats posed, and tips for managing and keeping them at bay. Click here for the reference guide or scroll down this page to see them individually.
Some of the invasive plants that are destroying pollinator prosperity
Identifying and recognizing these invasive plants and how to dispose of them, is key.
Autumn Olive © Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org
Autumn Olive
Invades field and field edges and spreads easily. Plus, autumn olive’s ability to fix nitrogen helps it out-compete and displace native species.
Black Locust © Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org
Black Locust
Invades fields, grasslands, and open woodlands. It can increase soil nitrogen levels, which threatens native plants that are adapted to nitrogen-poor soils.
Black Swallow-wort © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Black Swallow-Wort
Black Swallow-Wort is an aggressive weed that's harmful to native plants, butterflies, birds, and more.
Bush Honeysuckle © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Bush Honeysuckle
Invades fields, field edges, and forests. It produces leaves earlier in the spring than most native species, which gives them a competitive advantage.
Common Barberry © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Common Barberry
Produces large numbers of fruit that are eaten by birds, which then spread the seeds across the landscape. Common barberry invades fields, forests, and wetland edges.
Common Buckthorn © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Common Buckthorn
Produces high numbers of fruits, which are dispersed by birds. It invades fields and field edges, forming dense stands that exclude other plants.
Common Reed © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Common Reed
Invades wetlands and can quickly form thick, dense stands that displace other plant species. As the diversity of plant species decreases, so too does the habitat that native wildlife depend on.
Dame's Rocket © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Dame's Rocket
It invades fields and field edges, crowding out native plants.
Garlic Mustard © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Garlic Mustard
Its numerous seeds are dispersed by wind and water. It invades fields and woodlands, displacing native vegetation. Garlic mustard can change soil conditions to inhibit the growth of most other plants.
Glossy Buckthorn © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Glossy Buckthorn
With shiny leaves and small dark fruit, glossy buckthorn grows as a deciduous shrub or a small tree up to 20 feet tall.
Goutweed © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Goutweed
Goutweed is a perennial herb from Asia that was likely introduced as a groundcover for landscaping.
Hardy Kiwi © Sten Porse, Bugwood.org
Hardy Kiwi
Hardy kiwi is a woody vine that can grow more than 20 feet per year. Its fruits are green, smooth, and grape-shaped.
Japanese Barberry © Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Japanese Barberry
A deciduous shrub from Japan, Japanese barberry has red berries, small teardrop-shaped leaves, and thorny twigs.
Japanese Honeysuckle © Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese honeysuckle is a perennial woody vine from Asia that grows up to 30 feet in length.
Japanese Knotweed © Mark Frey, The Presidio Trust , Bugwood.org
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese knotweed grows up to 10 feet tall, with heart-shaped leaves and white flowers.
Japanese Stilt-grass © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Japanese Stilt-grass
Originally from Asia, Japanese stilt-grass likely arrived in the U.S. as packing material for porcelain.
Kudzu © David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Kudzu
Kudzu is a perennial, semi-woody vine that can grow up to 100 feet long.
Mile-a-minute Vine © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Mile-a-minute Vine
An annual herbaceous plant with triangular leaves and blue fruits, mile-a-minute vine can grow up to 26 feet long.
Multiflora Rose © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Multiflora Rose
Multiflora rose is a deciduous shrub with white flowers and red fruit.
Norway Maple © Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Norway Maple
Norway maple is a deciduous tree that typically grows 40 to 60 feet tall.
Oriental Bittersweet © Linda Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Oriental Bittersweet
A deciduous woody vine, oriental bittersweet can grow up to 60 feet long, with a base up to 6 inches in diameter.
Perennial Pepperweed © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Perennial Pepperweed
Perennial Pepperweed—also known as Broad-leaved Pepperweed—is a perennial herb native to Europe and western Asia.
Porcelain-berry © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Porcelain-berry
Porcelain-berry is a deciduous, perennial, woody vine from Asia that can grow 10 to 15 feet a year.
Princess-tree © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Princess-tree
Princess-tree was imported from China and has glossy twigs with white speckles.
Purple Loosestrife © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Purple Loosestrife
A perennial from Europe, Purple Loosestrife usually grows from 3-5 feet tall, but can reach a height of up to 7 feet.
Sycamore Maple © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Sycamore Maple
Sycamore maple is a deciduous tree that typically grows 40 to 60 feet tall.
Tree-of-heaven © Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Tree-of-heaven
A deciduous tree with compound leaves, the tree-of-heaven can typically reach 30 to 50 feet but can grow up to 80 feet.
Wild Chevril © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Wild Chervil
Wild chervil is a biennial or short-lived perennial herb native to Europe and western Asia that typically grows up to 4 feet tall.
Wineberry © Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Wineberry
Wineberry is a deciduous shrub with upright arching stems and small flower buds, both of which are covered in reddish hairs.
Winged euonymus © Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Winged Euonymus
Winged euonymus gets its name from the woody “wings” on many twigs. It’s a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 10 feet tall.
Yellow Iris © Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org
Yellow Iris
A perennial herb, yellow iris has long, thin leaves and bright yellow flowers, and it grows from 1.5 to 4 feet tall.