Advisory List of Invasive Plants - 2019

This is a list of non-native plants found to pose a threat to habitats and natural resources in fb88. The Advisory List is an informal tool for landowners, wildlife biologists, foresters, land stewards, conservation commisions, and others interested in controlling invasive plants and preventing their spread. It is intended for education and outreach, land management, and other non-regulatory uses.

How is the Advisory List different than the Do Not Sell list?

The Do Not Sell list is a regulatory list of terrestrial invasive plants found in the horticulture trade. Plants on the Do Not Sell list may not be imported, exported, bought, sold, or intentionally propagated for sale. An important distinction between the two lists is that the Do Not Sell list only addresses species known from the horticulture trade, while the Advisory List includes numerous species not sold for planting, which are invasive via other pathways. For information on fb88's Regulatory Do Not Sell List, please visit fb88 Horticulture Program's Invasive Plant Rules.

Common Name Scientific Name Invasive Ranking Habitats Threatened Status in fb88
Amur Cork Tree Phellodendron amurense 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Not Yet Detected
Asiatic bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Not Yet Detected
Black swallowwort Cynanchum louiseae 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Not Yet Detected
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands Widespread
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands Not Yet Detected
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
Common barberry Berberis vulgaris 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Localized
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Dame’s rocket Hesperis matronalis 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
False indigo Amorpha fruticosa 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum 2-Very invasive Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Goutweed Aegopodium podagraria 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Localized
Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands Localized
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Norway maple Acer platanoides 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Water Localized
1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
Privet Ligustrum vulgare 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea 1-Severely invasive Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Not Yet Detected
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Widespread
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Localized
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Localized
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Water Localized
Wavyleaf basketgrass Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius 1-Severely invasive Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Localized
1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
Bella honeysuckle Lonicera x bella 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Not Yet Detected
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
Border privet Ligustrum obtusifolium 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands Widespread
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands Widespread
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
5-Not invasive at this time Open Uplands Widespread
Chocolate vine; five-leaf akebia Akebia quinata 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Not Yet Detected
Common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands Widespread
Common reed Phragmites australis 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands Widespread
2-Very invasive Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Localized
European alder Alnus glutinosa 1-Severely invasive Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
6-Insufficient data to evaluate Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
6-Insufficient data to evaluate Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Widespread
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Widespread
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Widespread
Flowering rush Butomus umbellatus 1-Severely invasive Open Wetlands Localized
6-Insufficient data to evaluate Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
Giant knotweed Fallopia sachalinensis 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Glossy buckthorn Frangula alnus 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Open Wetlands Localized
6-Insufficient data to evaluate Open Wetlands Localized
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Open Wetlands Localized
Hardy kiwi Actinidia arguta 2-Very invasive Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
6-Insufficient data to evaluate Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Japanese stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Not Yet Detected
Mile-a-minute vine Persicaria perfoliata 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
Morrow’s honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
Ornamental jewelweed Impatiens glandulifera 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Localized
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria 2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
Rugosa rose Rosa rugosa 2-Very invasive Open Uplands Widespread
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
3-Invasive, habitat-specific threats Open Uplands, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Localized
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
Tall pepperwort Lepidium latifolium 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Open Wetlands Localized
Tartarian honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
Wall lettuce Mycelis muralis 6-Insufficient data to evaluate Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
2-Very invasive Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
1-Severely invasive Open Water Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands Widespread
White poplar Populus alba 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
White Sweet Clover Melilotus albus 7-Not evaluated in 2019 Open Uplands Widespread
Wild Chervil Anthriscus sylvestris 7-Not evaluated in 2019 Open Uplands Localized
Wild parsnip Pastinaca sativa 4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Uplands Widespread
5-Not invasive at this time Open Uplands Widespread
Wineberry Rubus phoenicolasias 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Not Yet Detected
Winged euonymous Euonymus alatus 1-Severely invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands, Wooded Wetlands Localized
2-Very invasive Open Uplands, Wooded Uplands Not Yet Detected
1-Severely invasive Open Water, Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
4-Potential to be invasive, monitor Open Wetlands Not Yet Detected
Yellow iris Iris pseudacorus 1-Severely invasive Open Wetlands, Wooded Wetlands Widespread

Please note that this listing of invasive plants is informational only. It is intended to provide the reader with information about these species, including identification and potential control measures. It is not a regulatory list.

Please refer to for legislation regarding aquatic invasive plant species in fb88. More information about Chapter 273, the rule for listing invasive terrestrial plants is available at our Horticulture Program.

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