Invasive Annuals/Perennials a.k.a. "Weeds"

Latin Name

Common Name

Notes

Aegopodium podagraria

Goutweed

Commonly planted in the past and escaped; spreads aggresively by roots.

Alliaria petiolata

Garlic Mustard

Invasive in many states; spreading aggressively in woodlands by seed.

Carduus nutans

Musk Thistle

PA Noxious Weed.

Cirsium arvense

Canada Thistle

PA Noxious Weed.

Cirsium vulgare

Bull Thistle

PA Noxious Weed.

Datura stramonium

Jimsonweed

Sometimes cultivated; spreads by seed, PA Noxious Weed.

Galega officinalis

Goatsrue

PA and Federal Noxious Weed.

Heracleum mantegazzianum

Giant Hogweed

PA and Federal Noxious Weed, sap can cause burning blisters.

Hesperis matronalis

Dame's Rocket

Planted in gardens; escaped and naturalized along roads; spreads by seed.

Lythrum salicaria,
L. virgatum

Purple Loosestife

Garden escape which has become invasive in many states; PA Noxious Weed.

Myriophyllum spicatum

Eurasian Water-Milfoil

Invasive in many states; aquatic.

Omithogallum nutans,
O. umbellatum

Star-of-Bethlehem

Common garden plant which has widely escaped.

Pastinaca sativa

Wild Parsnip

Found commonly along roadsides; widespread and abundant; spread by seed.

Perilla frutescens

Beefsteak

Garden escape; widespread mostly along roadsides; spread by seed.

Polygonum (Falopia) cuspidatum

Japanese Knotweed

Invasive in many states; difficult to control; spreads by roots and seeds.

Ranunculus ficaria

Lesser celandine

Spreads by roots and shoots; can be very aggressive in wetlands.

Trapa natans

Water Chestnut

Wetland plant; should not be introduced as it will escape, spread, and naturalize.

Invasive Grasses

Latin Name

Common Name

Notes

Bromus tectorum

Cheatgrass

Annual grass; invasive throughout the west; spreads by seed.

Microstegium vimineum

Japanese Stilt Grass

Annual grass; invasive in many states; spreading through woodlands by seed.

*Miscanthus sinensis

Maiden Grass

Commonly planted ornamental grass which can escape and spread by seed.

Phalaris arundinacea

Reed Canary Grass

Aggressive wetland grass; native and introduced strains; widespread and abundant.

Phragmites australis

Common Reed

Native and introduced strains; wetland grass which can form huge colonies.

Sorghum bicolor ssp. drummondii

Shattercane

PA Noxious Weed.

Sorghum hajepense

Johnson Grass

PA Noxious Weed; spreads by roots and seeds.

Invasive Shrubs

Latin Name

Common Name

Notes

*Berberis thunbergii

Japanese Barberry

Escaped from cultivation and invasive in many states; spread by birds.

Berberis vulgaris

European Barberry

Escaped from cultivation; spread by birds.

Elaegnus angustifolia

Russian Olive

Escaped from plantings and invasive in many states; spread by birds.

Elaegnus umbellata

Autumn Olive

Escaped from plantings and invasive in many states; rapidly spreads by birds.

*Euonymus alatus

Winged Euonymus

Escaped from plantings; invasive in moist forests.

Ligustrum obtusifolium

Border Pivet

Escaped from cultivation; seeds spread by birds.

Ligustrum vulgare

Common Pivet

Planted very commonly in the past and escaped; invasive in many states.

Lonicera maackii

Amur Honeysuckle

Escaped from plantings; seeds spread by birds.

Lonicera morrowii

Morrow's Honeysuckle

Escaped from plantings and invasive in many states; seeds spread by birds.

Lonicera morrowii x tatarica

Bell's Honeysuckle

Escaped from cultivation.

Lonicera standishii

Standish Honeysuckle

Escaped from plantings; seeds spread by birds.

Lonicera tartarica

Tartarian Honeysuckle

Escaped from plantings; seeds spread by birds.

Rhamnus catharticus

Common Buckthorn

Becoming a problem in PA.

Rubus phoenicolasius

Wineberry

Common bramble; not cultivated; spread by seed.

Rosa multiflora

Multiflora Rose

Invasive in many states; seeds spread by birds; PA Noxious Weed.

*Spiraea japonica

Japanese Spirea

Frequently planted; escaped in some areas.

*Viburnum opulus var. opulus

Guelder Rose

Resembles native Viburnum trilobum which it replaces; both are cultivated and planted.

Invasive Trees

Latin Name

Common Name

Notes

*Acer platanoides

Norway Maple

Commonly planted and escaped; invasive in many states; wind spreads prolific seeds.

Acer pseudoplatanus

Sycamore Maple

Escaped from cultivation; wind spreads prolific seeds.

Ailanthus altissima

Tree-of-Heaven

Invasive in many states; wind spreads prolific seeds.

Paulownia tomentosa

Empress Tree

Prolific seeds fall to start new seedlings.

*Pyrus calleryana

Callery Pear

Commonly planted street tree; becoming a problem as an escape.

Ulmus pumila

Siberian Elm

Escaped from cultivation.

Invasive Vines

Latin Name

Common Name

Notes

Akebia quinata

Fiveleaf Akebia

Escaped from cultivation.

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata

Porcelain-Berry

Escaped from cultivation.

Celastrus orbiculatus

Oriental Bittersweet

Escaped from cultivation and invasive in many states; spreading rapidly (by birds).

Lonicera japonica

Japanese Honeysuckle

Invasive in many states.

Polygonum perfoliatum

Mile-a-Minute Vine

Range expanding; PA Noxious Weed.

Pueraria lobata

Kudzu

Invasive in many states; PA Noxious Weed.