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 - Revised 11/7/2023

This list has been compiled with input from representatives of the NC Natural Heritage Program, USDA Forest Service, NC Botanical Garden, NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, NC Native Plant Society, NC Invasive Plant Council, and other groups & individuals.

Click on the “+” to expand the list to see the invasive species in each category.

Rank 1 - Severe Threat

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

FNWL = on Federal Noxious Weed List
NCNWL = North Carolina Noxious Weed List

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
Ampelopsis glandulosa [= Ampelopsis brevipedunculata]	Porcelain-berry, Amur Peppervine
Celastrus orbiculatus	Oriental Bittersweet, (NCNWL)
Dioscorea polystachya [= Dioscorea oppositifolia]	Chinese Yam, Cinnamon Vine
Elaeagnus umbellata	Autumn Olive, Oriental Silverleaf
Ficaria verna [= Ranunculus ficaria]	Lesser Celandine, Fig Buttercup
Hedera helix	English Ivy, Common Ivy
Humulus scandens [= Humulus japonicus]	Japanese Hops
Hydrilla verticillata	Hydrilla (FNWL)
Lespedeza bicolor	Bicolor Lespedeza, Shrubby Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata	Sericea Lespedeza, Chinese Lespedeza
Ligustrum japonicum & cultivars	Japanese Privet
Ligustrum lucidum & cultivars	Glossy Privet
Ligustrum sinense & cultivars	Chinese Privet, “Privy Hedge”
Lonicera japonica	Japanese Honeysuckle
Microstegium vimineum	Japanese Stilt-grass
Miscanthus sinensis	Chinese Silver Grass, Eulalia
Murdannia keisak	Mud-annie, Marsh Dewflower
Myriophyllum aquaticum	Parrot-feather
Paulownia tomentosa	Princess Tree, Empress Tree
Persicaria perfoliata	Mile-a-minute Vine (NCNWL)
Phragmites australis	Common Reed, Old World Reed
Pueraria montana var. lobata	Kudzu
Pyrus calleryana	Bradford Pear, Callery Pear
Reynoutria japonica var. japonica [= Polygonum cuspidatum, Fallopia japonica]	Japanese Knotweed, Japanese Bamboo
Reynoutria sachalinensis [= Fallopia sachalinensis, Polygonum sachalinense]	Giant Knotweed, Sachaline
Reynoutria x bohemica [=Reynoutria japonica x sachalinensis]	Bohemian Knotweed, Hybrid Japanese Knotweed
Rosa multiflora	Multiflora Rose
Salvinia molesta	Giant Salvinia, Kariba Weed (FNWL, NCNWL)
Spiraea japonica	Japanese Spiraea
Vitex rotundifolia	Beach Vitex, Roundleaf Chaste-tree (NCNWL)
Wisteria floribunda	Japanese Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis	Chinese Wisteria
Wisteria x formosa [= W. floribunda x sinensis]	Hybrid Asian Wisteria
Youngia japonica	Asiatic Hawk’s-beard, Youngia

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.

FNWL = on Federal Noxious Weed List
NCNWL = North Carolina Noxious Weed List

Scientific Name	Common Name
Akebia quinata	Five-leaf Akebia, Chocolate-vine
Allium vineale	Field Garlic, Onion-grass
Arthraxon hispidus	Basket Grass, Hairy Jointgrass
Arum italicum	Italian Arum, Lords-and-ladies
Berberis thunbergii	Japanese Barberry
Broussonetia papyrifera	Paper Mulberry
Buddleja davidii [= Buddleia davidii]	Summer-lilac, Orange-eye Butterfly-bush
Causonis japonica [= Cayratia japonica]	Bushkiller, Sorrel Vine (NCNWL)
Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos [= Centaurea biebersteinii, C. maculosa]]	Spotted Knapweed, Bushy Knapweed
Cirsium arvense	Canada Thistle (NCNWL)
Citrus trifoliata [= Poncirus trifoliata]	Hardy Orange, Trifoliate Orange
Clematis terniflora [= Clematis dioscoreifolia]	Sweet Autumn Clematis
Corydalis incisa	Purple Keman
Cytisus scoparius	Scotch Broom
Egeria densa	Brazilian Elodea, Brazilian Waterweed
Elaeagnus angustifolia	Russian Olive, Oleaster
Elaeagnus pungens	Thorny-olive, Autumn Silverberry
Euonymus alatus	Burning Bush, Winged Euonymus
Euonymus fortunei	Wintercreeper, Chinese Spindle-tree
Glechoma hederacea	Gill-over-the-ground, Ground-ivy
Imperata cylindrica + varieties	Cogongrass, Japanese Blood Grass (FNWL)
Iris pseudacorus	Water Flag, Yellow Flag
Ligustrum vulgare & cultivars	Common Privet
Lonicera fragrantíssima	Sweet-breath-of-spring, Fragrant Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii	Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera morrowii	Morrow’s Honeysuckle
Lonicera standishii	Standish’s Honeysuckle
Lonicera x bella [Lonicera tatarica x morrowii]	Pretty Honeysuckle
Lygodium japonicum	Japanese Climbing Fern
Lysimachia nummularia	Creeping Jenny, Creeping Charlie
Lythrum salicaria	Purple Loosestrife (NCNWL)
Mahonia bealei	Leatherleaf Mahonia, Chinese Mahonia
Morus alba	White Mulberry
Myriophyllum spicatum	Eurasian Water-milfoil (NCNWL)
Nandina domestica	Nandina, Sacred-bamboo
Oshuna crassipes [= Eichhornia crassipes]	Water Hyacinth
Perilla frutescens	Perilla, Beefsteak-plant
Persicaria longiseta [= Polygonum caespitosum]	Longbristle Smartweed
Persicaria maculosa [= Polygonum persicaria]	Lady’s-thumb, Heart’s-ease
Phyllostachys aurea	Golden Bamboo, Fishpole Bamboo
Rosa lucieae [= Rosa wichuraiana]	Memorial Rose
Rubus phoenicolasius	Wineberry, Wine Raspberry
Solanum viarum	Tropical Soda Apple (FNWL)
Sorghum halepense	Johnson Grass
Stellaria media	Common Chickweed
Triadica sebifera	Chinese Tallow-tree, Popcorn Tree
Tussilago farfara	Coltsfoot
Ulmus parviflora	Chinese Elm
Verbascum phlomoides	Clasping Mullein, Orange Mullein
Viburnum dilatatum	Linden Arrow-wood
Vinca major	Greater Periwinkle
Vinca minor	Common Periwinkle, Myrtle

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.

FNWL = on Federal Noxious Weed List
NCNWL = North Carolina Noxious Weed List

Scientific Name	Common Name
Agrostis gigantea	Redtop, Black Bentgrass
Ajuga reptans	Carpet Bugle, Bugleweed
Anthoxanthum odoratum	Sweet Vernal Grass
Artemisia vulgaris	Common Mugwort, Wormwood
Arundo donax	Giant Reed
Bromus catharticus var. 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
Cardiospermum haliacacabum	Balloon Vine, Heartseed
Cichorium intybus	Chicory, Succory
Cirsium vulgare	Bull Thistle
Conium maculatum	Poison-hemlock
Cynodon dactylon	Bermuda Grass, Scutch Grass
Daucus carota	Queen-Anne’s-lace, Wild Carrot
Dipsacus fullonum	Wild Teasel, Fuller’s Teasel
Emblica urinaria [= Phyllanthus urinaria]	Chamber-bitter, Gripeweed
Eremochloa ophiuriodes	Centipede Grass
Fatoua villosa	Mulberry-weed, Crabweed
Firmiana simplex	Chinese Parasol-tree
Helleborus species	Hellebore, Lenten-rose, Christmas-rose
Hibiscus syriacus	Rose-of-Sharon, Althaea
Holcus lanatus	Common Velvet Grass
Ilex cornuta + varieties	Chinese Holly, Burford Holly
Kummerowia stipulacea	Korean Lespedeza, Korean-clover
Kummerowia striata	Japanese-clover, Common Lespedeza
Lamium purpureum	Purple Archangel, Purple Dead-nettle
Leucanthemum vulgare [= Chrysanthemum leucanthemum]	Oxeye Daisy, White Daisy
Liriope muscari	Liriope, Big Blue Lilyturf
Lolium pratense [= Festuca pratensis]	Meadow Fescue
Ludwigia hexapetala [= Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. hexapetala, Ludwigia uruguayensis]	Common Water-primrose (NCNWL)
Melia azedarach	Chinaberry, Pride-of-India
Melilotus albus	White Melilot, White Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis	Yellow Melilot, Yellow Sweetclover
Mosla dianthera	Miniature Beefsteakplant, Mosla
Najas minor	Spinyleaf Naiad, Brittle Naiad
Nymphoides peltata	Yellow Floating Heart (NCNWL)
Ornithogalum umbellatum	Star-of-Bethlehem, Nap-at-noon
Paspalum dilatatum	Dallis Grass
Paspalum notatum	Bahia Grass
Paspalum urvillei	Vasey Grass
Pastinaca sativa	Wild Parsnip
Phleum pratense	Timothy
Poa compressa	Flat-stemmed Bluegrass
Poa pratensis	Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa trivialis	Rough Bluegrass
Populus alba	Silver Poplar, White Poplar
Potentilla indica [= Duchesnea indica]	Wolf Strawberry, Indian Strawberry
Rhamnus cathartica	Common Buckthorn, European Buckthorn
Rhodotypos scandens	Jetbead
Securigera varia [= Coronilla varia]	Crown-vetch
Senecio vulgaris	Common Groundsel
Setaria faberi	Nodding Foxtail-grass
Setaria pumila	Yellow Foxtail, Yellow Bristlegrass (NCNWL)

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.

FNWL = on Federal Noxious Weed List
NCNWL = North Carolina Noxious Weed List

Scientific Name	Common Name
Acer ginnala	Amur Maple
Acer platanoides	Norway Maple
Aegopodium podagraria	Goutweed
Alnus glutinosa	Black Alder, European Alder
Asparagus aethiopicus	Sprenger’s Asparagus Fern
Azolla pinnata ssp. asiatica	Asian Mosquito Fern (FNWL)
Bromus inermis	Smooth Brome, Hungarian Brome
Buddleja lindleyana	Lindley’s Butterfly-bush
Buglossoides arvensis	Corn-gromwell
Campanula rapunculoides	Creeping Bellflower
Camphora officinarum	Camphortree
Carduus acanthoides	Plumeless Thistle (NCNWL)
Carduus nutans	Nodding Thistle, Musk Thistle (NCNWL)
Carex kobomugi	Sea Isle Sedge, Japanese Beach Sedge
Centaurea jacea	Brown Knapweed
Clerodendrum trichotomum var. ferrugineum	Harlequin Glory-bower
Colocasia esculenta	Coco Yam, Taro, Dasheen
Commelina benghalensis	Tropical Spiderwort (FNWL)
Commelina communis	Common Dayflower
Cortaderia selloana	Pampasgrass
Crotolaria spectabilis	Showy Rattlebox
Cuscuta cassytoides	African Dodder (FNWL)
Cyanus segetum [= Centaurea cyanus]	Cornflower, Bachelor’s-buttons
Deutzia scabra	Deutzia, Pride of Rochester
Echium vulgare	Viper’s-bugloss, Blueweed
Elymus tsukushiensis [= Elymus kamoji, Agropyron kamoji, Agropyron semicostaum var. transiens]	Kamoji Wild-rye
Eragrostis curvula	Weeping Love Grass
Heracleum mantegazzianum	Giant Hogweed (FNWL)
Hesperis matronalis	Dame’s Rocket
Houttuynia cordata	Fishmint, Chameleon-plant
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides	Lawn Water-pennywort
Hypericum perforatum	European St. John’s-wort, Klamath-weed
Ilex crenata	Japanese Holly
Ipomoea quamoclit	Cypress-vine
Lamium galeobdolon	Yellow Archangel
Ligustrum obtusifolium var. obtusifolium & cultivars	Border Privet
Ligustrum obtusifolium var. suave & cultivars	Amur Privet
Ligustrum quihoui & cultivars	Waxy-leaf Privet
Liriope spicata	Creeping Liriope
Lolium arundinaceum [= Schedonorus arundinaceum, Festuca arundinacea, Schedonorus phoenix]	Tall Fescue
Lonicera tatarica	Tatarian Honeysuckle
Ludwigia grandiflora [= Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. grandiflora]	Showy Water-primrose
Lysimachia clethroides	Gooseneck Loosestrife
Macrothelypteris torresiana	Mariana Maiden Fern
Nelumbo nucifera	Sacred-lotus, Oriental Lotus-lily
Oplismenus undulatifolius [= Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius]	Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Orobanche minor	Hellroot, Lesser Broomrape (FNWL)
Paederia foetida	Skunkvine
Panicum repens	Torpedo Grass
Philydrum lanuginosum	Woolly Waterlily, Frog’s-mouth
Phyllostachys bambusoides	Giant Timber Bamboo
Pistacia sinensis	Chinese Pistacia
Pistia stratiotes	Water Lettuce
Potamogeton crispus	Curly Pondweed, Curled Pondweed
Pourthiaea villosa [= Photinia villosa]	Oriental Photinia
Pseudosasa japonica	Arrow Bamboo
Quercus acutissima	Sawtooth Oak
Rorippa sylvestris	Creeping Yellow Cress (NCNWL)
Rosa bracteata	McCartney Rose, Chickasaw Rose
Rosa laevigata	Cherokee Rose
Rottboellia cochinchinensis	Itch-grass (FNWL)
Rubus bifrons [= Rubus armeniacus]	Himalayan Blackberry
Sesbania punicea	Rattlebox, Red Sesban
Setaria italica	Italian Millet, Foxtail-millet
Setaria viridis	Green Millet, Green Bristlegrass
Solanum dulcamara	Bittersweet, Climbing Nightshade
Stachys floridana	Florida Betony, Florida Hedge-nettle (NCNWL)
Striga asiatica	Witchweed [NCNWL]
Tamarix canariensis	Canary Island Tamarisk
Tamarix gallica	French Tamarisk
Tamarix parviflora	Small-flower Tamarisk
Tamarix ramosissima	Salt-cedar
Torilis helvetica[=Torilis arvensis]	Spreading Bur-parsley, Field Hedge-parsley
Tragopogon dubius	Goat's-beard, Yellow Salsify
Tribulus terrestris	Puncture-weed, Caltrop[NCNWL]
Tripidium ravennae [=Saccharum ravennae, Erianthus ravennae]	Ravenna-grass
Ulmus pumila	Siberian Elm
Verbascum thapsus	Wolly Mullein, Common Mullein
Vernicia fordii	Tung-oil Tree
Xanthium spinosum	Spiny Cocklebur

Watch List B

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

FNWL = on Federal Noxious Weed List
NCNWL = North Carolina Noxious Weed List

Scientific Name	Common Name
Achyranthes japonica var. hachijoensis	Japanese Chaff-flower
Aldrovanda vesiculosa	Waterwheel-plant
Alternanthera sessilis	Sessile Joyweed (FNWL)
Ardisia crenata	Hen’s Eyes, Coral Ardisia
Callitriche stagnalis	European Water-starwort
Crassula helmsii	Swamp Stonecrop, New Zealand Pigmyweed (NCNWL)
Cyperus entrerianus	Deep-rooted Sedge, Woodrush Flatsedge
Dioscorea alata	White Yam, Great Yam
Dioscorea bulbifera	Air Yam
Hygrophila polysperma	West Indian Swampweed, Hygro (FNWL)
Ipomoea aquatica	Water Spinach, Swamp Morning-glory (FNWL)
Lagarosiphon major	African Elodea, Oxygen-weed (FNWL, NCNWL)
Ligustrum ovalifolium & cultivars	California Privet
Limnophila sessiliflora	Asian Marshweed (FNWL)
Lygodium microphyllum	Old World Climbing Fern (FNWL)
Melaleuca quinquenervia	Melaleuca, Punktree (FNWL)
Melinis repens	Rose Natalgrass, Creeping Molasses-grass
Nassella trichotoma	Serrated Tussockgrass (FNWL)
Nymphoides cristata	Crested Floating Heart, Water Snowflake (NCNWL)
Nymphoides indica	Water Snowflake (NCNWL)
Phyllostachys nigra	Black Bamboo
Schinus terebinthifolius	Brazilian-pepper, Christmasberry Tree
Tamarix africana	African Tamarisk
Trapa natans	European Water-chestnut, Water-caltrop (NCNWL)

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.

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