NC Native Plant Society – Invasive Exotic Plants in NC
We hope this list will help eliminate the use of invasive exotic plants in landscaping and restoration projects.
The intent of this list is to:
- Rank exotic plants based on their demonstrated invasive characteristics
- Educate the public and resource managers
- Encourage early detection of invasive exotic species so that a rapid response can be implemented when needed
The button below will initiate a search showing the invasives we have in our database at present:
The intent of the NC Native Plant Society Invasive Exotic Plant list is to rank exotic (alien, foreign, introduced, and non-indigenous) plants based on their invasive characteristics, to educate the public and resource managers, and to encourage early detection of invasive exotic species so that a rapid response can be implemented when needed. We hope this list will help eliminate the use of invasive exotic plants in landscaping and restoration projects.
Background: Many introduced plants have become naturalized in North Carolina and some are replacing our native plant species. Not all exotic species are considered harmful. Invasive plants are usually characterized by fast growth rates, high fruit production, rapid vegetative spread and efficient seed dispersal and germination. Not being native to NC, they lack the natural predators and diseases which would naturally control them in their native habitats. The rapid growth and reproduction of invasive plants allows them to overwhelm and displace existing vegetation and, in some cases, form dense one-species stands. Invasive species are especially problematic in areas that have been disturbed by human activities such as road building, residential development, forest clearing, logging, grazing, mining, ditching, mowing, erosion control, and fire control activities.
Invasive exotic plants disrupt the ecology of natural ecosystems, displace native plant and animal species, and degrade our biological resources. Aggressive invaders reduce the amount of light, water, nutrients and space available to native species. Some cause increased erosion along stream banks, shorelines and roadsides. Some exotics hybridize with related native plant species, resulting in changes to a population’s genetic makeup; others have been found to harbor plant pathogens, which can affect both native and non-native plants, including ornamentals. Others contain toxins that may be lethal humans and other animals. Some invasive plants compete with and replace rare and endangered species and encroach upon their limited habitat. Other problems include disruption of native plant-pollinator relationships, tree and shrub mortality due to girdling, reduced establishment of native tree and shrub seedlings, reduction in the amount of space, water, sunlight and nutrients that would be available to native species, and altered fire regimes. Invasive plants also cause economic losses and expenditures each year for agriculture, forestry, and roadside management.
Our native fauna, including insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and other animals, is dependent on native plants for food and shelter. While some animals can feed on a wide number of plant species, others are highly specialized and may be restricted to feeding on several or a single plant species. As exotic plants replace our native flora, fewer host plants are available to provide the necessary nutrition for our native wildlife. In some cases, invasive plants replace nutritious native plant foods with lower quality sources. Each exotic plant is one less native host plant for our native insects, vertebrates and other organisms that are dependent upon them.
It is important to document the spread of invasive exotic plants into natural areas. When invaders are found outside of landscape plantings, they should be recorded and voucher specimens should be collected for donation to a herbarium.
To reduce invasive plant invasions, we must approach the problem in a variety of ways: stop planting them, prevent accidental introductions, manage existing infestations, minimize disturbance to forests, wetlands, and other natural communities, and learn to work with (rather than against) natural systems and cycles.
Download the NPS Invasive Exotic Plant List.doc
And you can access the NC Invasive Plant web site at NC IPC
NC Invasive Plant web site has a list of invasive plants by botanical name and the Federal Noxious Weed List as well as the NC Noxious Weed and Noxious Aquatice Weed 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 (Mill.) Swingle | Tree of Heaven |
| Albizia julibrissin Durz. | Mimosa |
| Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande | Garlic-mustard |
| Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. | Alligatorweed |
| Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. | Asian bittersweet |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia L. | Russian olive |
| Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. | Autumn olive |
| Hedera helix L. | English ivy |
| Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle | Hydrilla |
| Lespedeza bicolor | Bicolor lespedeza |
| Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don | Sericea lespedeza |
| Ligustrum sinense Lour. | Chinese privet |
| Lonicera fragrantissima Lindl. & Paxton | Fragrant honeysuckle |
| Lonicera japonica Thunb. | Japanese honeysuckle |
| Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus | Japanese stilt-grass |
| Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) Hand.-Mazz. | Asian spiderwort |
| Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc. | Parrotfeather |
| Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Sieb.&Zucc. ex Steud. | Princess tree |
| Persicaria perfoliata (Linnaeus) H. Gross (=Polygonum perfoliatum L.) | Mile-a-minute vine |
| Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ssp. australis | Common reed |
| Pyrus calleryana Decne. | Bradford pear |
| Polygonum cuspidatum Seib. & Zucc. | Japanese knotweed |
| Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. | Kudzu |
| Rosa multiflora Thunb. | Multiflora rose |
| Salvinia molesta Mitchell | Aquarium water-moss |
| Vitex rotundifolia L.f. | Beach vitex |
| Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC | Chinese wisteria |
back to top
Rank 2 – Significant Threat
Exotic plant species that display some invasive characteristics, but do not appear to present as great a threat native communities in NC as the species listed in Rank 1.
| Scientific name | Common name |
|---|---|
| Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Maxim.) Trautv. | Porcelain-berry |
| Arthraxon hispidus (Thunb.) Makino | Hairy jointgrass |
| Berberis thunbergii DC | Japanese barberry |
| Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L’Her. ex Vent. | Paper mulberry |
| Cardiospermum halicacabum L. | Balloon-vine |
| Cayratia japonica (Thunb. ex Murray) Gagnep. | Bushkiller |
| Centaurea biebersteinii DC | Spotted knapweed |
| Clematis terniflora DC (=C. dioscoreifolia) | Leatherleaf clematis |
| Conium maculatum L. | Poison hemlock |
| Coronilla varia L. | Crown vetch |
| Dioscorea polystachya L. | Air-potato |
| Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms | Water-hyacinth |
| Euonymus alata (Thunb.) Sieb. | Burning bush |
| Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand. – Mazz | Winter creeper |
| Ficaria verna ssp. ficariiformis (F.W. Schultz) B. Walln. (=Ranunculus ficaria) | Lesser Celandine |
| Glechoma hederacea L. | Gill-over-the-ground, ground ivy |
| Humulus japonicus | Japanese Hops |
| Lamium purpureum L. | Henbit |
| Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. | Bicolor lespedeza, shrubby bushclover |
| Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. | Japanese privet |
| Ligustrum vulgare L. | Common privet |
| Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Maxim. | Amur bush honeysuckle |
| Lonicera morrowii A. Gray | Morrow’s bush honeysuckle |
| Lonicera standishii Jaques | Standish’s Honeysuckle |
| Lonicera ×bella [morrowii × tatarica] | Hybrid Bush Honeysuckle |
| Ludwigia uruguayensis (Camb.) Hara | Creeping waterprimrose |
| Lygodium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murr.) Sw. | Japanese climbing fern |
| Lythrum salicaria L. | Purple loosestrife |
| Mahonia bealei (Fortune) Carriere | Leatherleaf Mahonia |
| Miscanthus sinensis Andersson | Chinese silver grass |
| Morus alba L. | White mulberry |
| Myriophyllum spicatum Komarov | Eurasian watermilfoil |
| Nandina domestica Thunb. | Nandina |
| Persicaria longiseta (de Bruijn) Moldenke (=Polygonum caespitosum Blume) | Oriental ladies-thumb |
| Persicaria maculata (Rafinesque) S.F. Gray (=Polygonum persicaria L.) | Lady’s thumb |
| Phyllostachys spp. | Exotic bamboo |
| Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. | Hardy-Orange |
| Pseudosasa japonica (Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai | Arrow bamboo |
| Rhodotypos scandens (Thunb.) | Makino jetbead |
| Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim. | Wineberry |
| Solanum viarum Dunal | Tropical soda apple |
| Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. | Johnson grass |
| Spiraea japonica L.f. | Japanese spiraea |
| Stellaria media (L.) Vill. | Common chickweed |
| Veronica hederifolia L. | Ivyleaf speedwell |
| Vinca major L. | Bigleaf periwinkle |
| Vinca minor L. | Common periwinkle |
| Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC | Japanese wisteria |
| Xanthium strumarium L. | Common cocklebur |
| Youngia japonica (L.) DC. | Oriental false hawksbeard |
back to top
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.
| Scientific name | Common name |
|---|---|
| Ajuga reptans L. | Bugleweed |
| Allium vineale L. | Field garlic |
| Artemisia vulgaris L. | Mugwort, common wormwood |
| Arundo donax L. | Giant reed |
| Baccharis halimifolia L. (*) | Silverling, groundsel tree |
| Bromus catharticus Vahl | Bromegrass, rescue grass |
| Bromus commutatus Schrad. | Meadow brome |
| Bromus japonicus Thunb. ex Murray | Japanese bromegrass |
| Bromus secalinus L. | Rye brome |
| Bromus tectorum L. | Thatch bromegrass, cheat grass |
| Buddleia davidii Franch | Butterfly bush |
| Cichorium intybus L. | Chicory |
| Chrysanthemum leucanthemum L. | Ox-eye daisy |
| Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. | Bull thistle |
| Daucus carota L. | Wild carrot, Queen Anne’s-lace |
| Dipsacus fullonum L. | Fuller’s teasle |
| Egeria densa Planch. | Brazilian elodea, Brazilian water-weed |
| Fatoua villosa (Thunb.) Nakai | Hairy crabweed |
| Festuca pratensis Huds. | Meadow fescue |
| Ipomoea quamoclit L. | Cypressvine morningglory |
| Kummerowia stipulacea (Maxim.) | Makino Korean clover |
| Kummerowia striata (Thunb.) Schindl | Japanese clover |
| Lamiastrum galeobdolon | Yellow Archangel |
| Liriope muscari (Dcne.) Bailey | Liriope, Lilyturf |
| Lysimachia nummularia L. | Moneywort, creeping Jenny |
| Melilotus albus Medik. | White sweet clover |
| Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. | Yellow sweet clover |
| Najas minor All. | Brittle naiad |
| Pastinaca sativa L. | Wild parsnip |
| Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. | Beefsteakplant |
| Populus alba L. | White poplar |
| Senecio vulgaris L. | Ragwort |
| Setaria faberi R.A.W. Herrm. | Nodding foxtail-grass |
| Triadica sebifera (L.) Small | Chinese tallowtree |
| Tussilago farfara L. | Coltsfoot |
| Vicia sativa L. | Garden vetch |
*Baccharis halimifolia is native to marshes and marsh borders on the outer Coastal Plain in NC, but has spread along road corridors to invade disturbed areas in the Piedmont, which is not considered its native habitat.
back to top
Watch List A
Exotic plants that naturalize and may become a problem in the future; includes species that are or could become widespread in North Carolina. At this time, more information is needed.
| Scientific name | Common name |
|---|---|
| Arum italicum P. Mill. | Italian lords and ladies |
| Buglossoides arvensis (L.) I.M. Johnston (L.) I.M. | Corn gromwell |
| Bupleurum rotundifolium L. | Hound’s-ear, hare’s ear |
| Centaurea cyanus L. | cornflower |
| Cyperus entrerianus B?ckler | Deep-rooted sedge |
| Echium vulgare L. | Viper’s bugloss |
| Elaeagnus pungens Thunb | Thorny olive |
| Hibiscus syriacus L. | Rose of Sharon |
| Hypericum perforatum L. | St. John’s-wort |
| Ilex cornuta | Burford Holly |
| Ornithogalum umbellatum L. | Star of Bethlehem |
| Solanum dulcamara L. | Climbing nightshade |
| Verbascum thapsus L. | Common mullein |
back to top
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 L. | Norway maple |
| Akebia quinata (Houtt.) Dcne. | Fiveleaf akebia |
| Bromus inermis Leyss. | Smooth bromegrass |
| Carduus nutans L. | Musk thistle |
| Carex kobomugi Ohwi | Japanese sedge |
| Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. | Canada thistle |
| Commelina benghalensis L. | Bengal dayflower |
| Hesperis matronalis L. | Dame’s rocket |
| Imperata cylindrica | Cogon grass |
| Iris pseudoacorus L. | Pale-yellow iris |
| Lonicera tatarica L. | Tartarian honeysuckle |
| Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. grandiflora (Michx) Greuter & Burdet | Creeping waterprimrose |
| Melia azedarach L. | Chinaberry |
| Nymphoides cristata (Roxburgh) Kuntze | Crested floating heart |
| Pistia stratiotes L. | Water-lettuce |
| Potamogeton crispus L. | Curly pondweed |
| Quercus acutissima Carruthers | Sawtooth oak |
| Rhamnus cathartica L. | European buckthorn |
| Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. | Foxtail-millet |
| Setaria verticillata (L.) Beauv. | Bur-foxtail |
| Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv. | Green millet |
| Stachys floridana Shuttlw. ex Benth. | Florida Hedge nettle |
| Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link | Spreading hedge-parsley |
| Tragopogon dubius Scop. | Yellow goat’s-beard |
| Trapa natans L. | Water Chestnut |
| Tribulus terrestris L. | Puncturevine |
| Xanthium spinosum L. | Spiny cocklebur |
back to top
Credits
Compiled by Misty Franklin Buchanan ,
with review and input from biologists in the following agencies:
NC Natural Heritage Program,
NC DENR Aquatic Weed Control Program,
NC Exotic Pest Plant Council,
US Fish &Wildlife Service,
The Nature Conservancy,
NC Zoo,
NC Botanical Garden,
and UNC Herbarium.
2006 marked the first edition of the NC Native Plant Society Invasive Exotic Plant list. The 2004 Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Exotic Plant list was used as a model for organization of this list, but species listed and ranks assigned here are applicable to North Carolina. The NC Native Plant Society Invasive Exotic Plant List is considered a work in progress, and will be evaluated and updated as new information is gathered about these and other species.
back to top
