Why Identify Invasive, Non-Native Species?

Many introduced plants have become naturalized in North Carolina. Some of these have become invasive, replacing our native plant species. Our native fauna, including insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and other animals, are dependent on native plants for food and shelter. Native plant loss due to the spread of invasive non-native plants poses a serious disruption to natural ecosystems in North Carolina and around the world.

It is so important to educate the public, nurseries, and resource managers to recognize invasive, non-native plant species and to understand their detrimental impact on our environment. With education and awareness of these invasive, non-native plant species, we hope to encourage early detection so that a rapid response can be implemented to control them, manage existing infestations, prevent accidental introductions, help to discontinue their use in landscaping and restoration projects, and minimize disturbance to forests, wetlands, and other natural communities. We must learn to work with (rather than against) natural systems and cycles.

Please note that NCNPS considers all the species on the invasive list—including the so-called “sterile hybrids” of those species—to be invasive. Many supposedly sterile hybrids have proven, through cross-pollination and other means, to be able to produce fruit and spread. In addition, no non-native plant ever provides the full ecological benefit that native plants offer. When you plant a native plant, you support an entire community of native organisms.

Invasive, Non-Native Plant Species Lists

Rank 1 - Severe Threat

Exotic plant species that have invasive characteristics and spread readily into native plant communities, displacing native vegetation.

Scientific Name	Common Name
Ailanthus altissima	Tree of Heaven, Copal Tree
Albizia julibrissin	Mimosa, Silk Tree
Alliaria petiolata	Garlic Mustard, Hedge Garlic
Alternanthera philoxeroides	Alligator-weed
Celastrus orbiculatus	Oriental Bittersweet
Elaeagnus angustifolia	Russian Olive, Oleaster
Elaeagnus umbellata	Autumn Olive, Oriental Silverleaf
Hedera helix	English Ivy, Common Ivy
Hydrilla verticillata	Hydrilla
Lespedeza bicolor	Bicolor Lespedeza, Shrubby Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata	Sericea Lespedeza, Chinese Lespedeza
Ligustrum sinense	Chinese Privet, “Privy Hedge”
Lonicera fragrantíssima	Sweet-breath-of-spring, Fragrant Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica	Japanese Honeysuckle
Microstegium vimineum	Japanese Stilt-grass
Murdannia keisak	Mud-annie, Marsh Dewflower
Myriophyllum aquaticum	Parrot-feather
Paulownia tomentosa	Princess Tree, Empress Tree
Persicaria perfoliata	Mile-a-minute Vine
Phragmites australis	Common Reed, Old World Reed
Pyrus calleryana	Bradford Pear, Callery Pear
Reynoutria japonica [= Polygonum cuspidatum, Fallopia japonica]	Japanese Knotweed, Japanese Bamboo
Pueraria montana var. lobata	Kudzu
Rosa multiflora	Multiflora Rose
Salvinia molesta	Giant Salvinia, Kariba Weed
Vitex rotundifolia	Beach Vitex, Roundleaf Chaste-tree
Wisteria sinensis	Chinese Wisteria

Rank 2 - Significant Threat

Exotic plant species that display some invasive characteristics, but do not appear to present as great a threat to native communities in NC as the species listed in Rank 1.

Scientific Name	Common Name
Ampelopsis glandulosa [= Ampelopsis brevipedunculata]	Porcelain-berry, Amur Peppervine
Arthraxon hispidus var. hispidus	Basket Grass
Bambusa spp.	Exotic Bamboo
Berberis thunbergii	Japanese Barberry
Broussonetia papyrifera	Paper Mulberry
Cardiospermum haliacacabum	Balloon Vine, Heartseed
Causonis japonica [= Cayratia japonica]	Bushkiller, Sorrel Vine
Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos [= Centaurea biebersteinii]	Spotted Knapweed
Citrus trifoliata [= Poncirus trifoliata]	Hardy Orange, Trifoliate Orange
Clematis terniflora [= Clematis dioscoreifolia]	Sweet Autumn Clematis
Conium maculatum	Poison-hemlock
Dioscorea polystachya [= Dioscorea oppositifolia]	Chinese Yam, Cinnamon Vine
Egeria densa	Brazilian Elodea, Brazilian Waterweed
Elaeagnus pungens	Thorny-olive, Autumn Silverberry
Euonymus alatus	Burning Bush, Winged Euonymus
Euonymus fortunei	Wintercreeper, Chinese Spindle-tree
Ficaria verna [= Ranunculus ficaria]	Lesser Celandine
Glechoma hederacea	Gill-over-the-ground, Ground-ivy
Humulus japonicus	Japanese Hops
Lamium purpureum	Purple Archangel, Purple Dead-nettle
Ligustrum japonicum	Japanese Privet
Ligustrum vulgare	Common Privet
Lonicera maackii	Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera morrowii	Morrow’s Honeysuckle
Lonicera standishii	Standish’s Honeysuckle
Lonicera xbella [Lonicera tatarica x morrowii]	Pretty Honeysuckle
Lygodium japonicum	Japanese Climbing Fern
Lythrum salicaria	Purple Loosestrife
Mahonia bealei	Leatherleaf Mahonia, Chinese Mahonia
Miscanthus sinensis	Chinese Silver Grass, Eulalia
Morus alba	White Mulberry
Myriophyllum spicatum	Eurasian Water-milfoil
Nandina domestica	Nandina, Sacred-bamboo
Oshuna crassipes [= Eichhornia crassipes]	Water Hyacinth
Persicaria longiseta [= Polygonum caespitosum]	Longbristle Smartweed
Persicaria maculosa [= Polygonum persicaria]	Lady’s-thumb, Heart’s-ease
Phyllostachys spp.	Exotic Bamboo
Pseudosasa japonica	Arrow Bamboo
Reynoutria sachalinensis [= Fallopia sachalinensis, Polygonum sachalinense]	Giant Knotweed, Sachaline
Rhodotypos scandens	Jetbead
Rubus phoenicolasius	Wineberry, Wine Raspberry
Securigera varia [= Coronilla varia]	Crown-vetch
Sorghum halapense	Johnson Grass
Spiraea japonica	Japanese Spiraea
Stellaria media	Common Chickweed
Veronica hederifolia	Ivyleaf Speedwell
Vinca major	Greater Periwinkle
Vinca minor	Common Periwinkle, Myrtle
Wisteria floribunda	Japanese Wisteria
Xanthium strumarium	Cocklebur
Youngia japonica	Asiatic Hawk’s-beard, Youngia

Rank 3 - Lesser Threat

Exotic plant species that spread into or around disturbed areas and are presently considered a low threat to native plant communities in NC.

*Baccharis halimifolia is native to marshes and marsh borders on the outer Coastal Plain but has spread along road corridors to invade disturbed areas in the Piedmont, which is not considered its native habitat.

Scientific Name	Common Name
Ajuga reptans	Carpet Bugle, Bugleweed
Allium vineale	Field Garlic, Onion-grass
Artemisia vulgaris	Common Mugwort, Wormwood
Arundo donax	Giant Reed
Baccharis halimifolia *	Silverling, High-tide Bush, Groundsel Tree
Bromus catharticus	Rescue Grass, Bromegrass
Bromus commutatus	Meadow Brome, Hairy Chess
Bromus japonicus	Japanese Brome, Japanese Chess
Bromus secalinus	Cheat, Common Chess, Rye-brome
Bromus tectorum	Cheatgrass, Downy Brome, Downy Chess
Buddleja davidii [= Buddleia davidii]	Summer-lilac, Orange-eye Butterfly-bush
Cichorium intybus	Chicory, Succory
Cirsium vulgare	Bull Thistle
Daucus carota	Queen-Anne’s-lace, Wild Carrot
Dipsacus fullonum	Wild Teasel, Fuller’s Teasel
Fatoua villosa	Mulberry-weed, Crabweed
Ipomoea quamoclit	Cypress-vine
Kummerowia stipulacea	Korean Lespedeza, Korean-clover
Kummerowia striata	Japanese-clover, Common Lespedeza
Leucanthemum vulgare [= Chrysanthemum leucanthemum]	Oxeye Daisy, White Daisy
Liriope muscari	Liriope, Big Blue Lilyturf
Lolium pratense [= Festuca pratensis]	Meadow Fescue
Lysimachia nummularia	Creeping Jenny, Creeping Charlie
Melilotus albus	White Melilot, White Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis	Yellow Melilot, Yellow Sweetclover
Najas minor	Spinyleaf Naiad
Nasturtium officinale	Watercress
Pastinaca sativa	Wild Parsnip
Perilla frutescens	Perilla, Beefsteak-plant
Populus alba	Silver Poplar, White Poplar
Senecio vulgaris	Groundsel
Setaria faberi	Nodding Foxtail-grass
Triadica sebifera	Chinese Tallow-tree, Popcorn Tree
Tussilago farfara	Coltsfoot
Vicia sativa	Garden Vetch

Watch List A

Exotic plant species that cause problems in adjacent states but have not yet been reported to cause problems in NC. At this time, more information is needed.

Scientific Name	Common Name
Arum italicum	Italian Arum, Lords-and-ladies
Buglossoides arvensis	Corn-gromwell
Bupleurum rotundifolium	Hare’s-ear, Thoroughwax
Cyanus segetum [= Centaurea cyanus]	Cornflower, Bachelor’s-buttons
Cyperus entreianus	Woodrush Flatsedge
Echium vulgare	Viper’s-bugloss, Blueweed
Hibiscus syriacus	Rose-of-Sharon, Althaea
Hypericum perforatum	European St. John’s-wort, Klamath-weed
Ornithogalum umbellatum	Star-of-Bethlehem, Nap-at-noon
Solanum dulcamara	Bittersweet, Climbing Nightshade
Verbascum thapsus	Woolly Mullein, Common Mullein

Watch List B

Exotic plant species that cause problems in adjacent states but have not yet been reported to cause problems in NC.

Scientific Name	Common Name
Acer platanoides	Norway Maple
Akebia quinata	Five-leaf Akebia, Chocolate-vine
Bromus inermis	Smooth Brome, Hungarian Brome
Carduus nutans	Nodding Thistle, Musk Thistle
Carex kobomugi	Sea Isle Sedge, Japanese Beach Sedge
Cirsium arvense	Canada Thistle, Field Thistle
Commelina benghalensis	Tropical Spiderwort, Bengal Dayaflower
Hesperis matronalis	Dame’s Rocket
Imperata cylindrica	Cogongrass
Iris pseudacorus	Water Flag, Yellow Flag
Lonicera tatarica	Tartarian Honeysuckle
Ludwigia grandiflora [= Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. grandiflora]	Showy Water-primrose
Melia azedarach	Chinaberry, Pride-of-India
Nymphoides cristata	Crested Floating Heart, Water Snowflake
Pistia stratiotes	Water Lettuce
Potamogeton crispus	Curly Pondweed, Curled Pondweed
Quercus acutissima	Sawtooth Oak
Rhamnus cathartica	Common Buckthorn, European Buckthorn
Setaria italica	Italian Millet, Foxtail-millet
Setaria verticillata	Hooked Bristlegrass, Bur-foxtail
Setaria viridis	Green Millet, Green Bristlegrass
Stachys floridana	Florida Betony, Florida Hedge-nettle
Torilis helvética [= Torilis arvensis]	Spreading Bur-parsley, Field Hedge-parsley
Tragopogon dubius	Goat’s-beard, Yellow Salsify
Trapa natans	European Water-chestnut, Water-caltrop
Tribulus terrestris	Puncture-weed, Caltrop
Xanthium spinosum	Spiny Cocklebur

Additional Resources

Downloadable List

Download and print a copy of the above invasive plant lists.

Gallery Search

Search our plant gallery database for invasive plants.

North Carolina Invasive Plant Council

On this website, access lists and information about invasive plants and noxious weeds. In addition, access the federal noxious weeds list.

NC State Extension

Learn more about invasive species and search an invasive plant list to find plants you should avoid introducing to your landscape.