Invasive Species

The non-native plants listed below are either well-documented invasives or potentially invasive plants in Michigan. Once introduced, these plants have the potential to aggressively colonize natural areas, decrease biodiversity and compromise the ecological integrity of the intact ecosystems they invade. Invasive plant species have impacts above and beyond just simple competition. Some invasive species alter hydrology, others impact nitrogen balance or fire ecology to name just a few negative impacts on the greater landscape. The potential invasiveness of a particular species depends on many factors including geographic location, soil type, and the relative disturbance of the site.

MNPPA member nurseries are restricted from cultivating these plants and are expected, through active management, to prevent the distribution of plants and seed in the plant material they sell.

Scientific Name Common Name
Acer ginnala Amur maple
Acer platanoides Norway Maple
Aegopodium podagraria Goutweed
Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven
Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard
Alnus glutinosa Black alder
Berberis spp. Barberry
Bromus inermis Smooth Brome Grass
Butomus umbellatus Flowering-rush
Cardamine impatiens Bitter Cress
Celastrus orbiculata Oriental Bittersweet
Centaurea maculosa Spotted Knapweed
Cirsium arvense Canada Thistle
Cirsium palustre European Marsh Thistle
Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley
Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed
Coronilla varia Crown Vetch
Cynanchum louiseae Black swallow-wort
Cynanchum rossicum Pale swallow-wort
Dipsacus laciniatus Cut-Leaved Teasel
Dipsacus sylestris Teasel
Eichhornia crassipes Water-hyacinth
Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn Olive
Euphorbia esula Leafy Spurge
Festuca arundinacea Tall Fescue
Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy
Gypsophila spp. Baby's Breath
Hemerocallis fulva Orange day-lily
Heracleum mantegazzianum Giant hogweed
Hesperis matronalis Dame's Rocket
Humulus japonicus Japanese hops
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae European frog-bit
Hypericum perforatum Common St. Johnswort
Iris pseudacorus Yellow flag iris
Ligustrum vulgare Privet
Linaria vulgaris Butter and Eggs
Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera morrowii Morrow Honeysuckle
Lonicera tatarica Tartarian Honeysuckle
Lonicera xbella Asian Honeysuckle
Lonicera xylosteum European Fly Honeysuckle
Lotus corniculata Birdfoot Trefoil
Lysimachia nummularia Moneywort
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife
Melilotus alba White Sweet Clover
Melilotus officinalis Yellow Sweet Clover
Morus alba White Mulberry
Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian Water Milfoil
Pastinaca sativa Wild Parsnip
Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass
Phragmites australis Giant reed
Poa compressa Canada Bluegrass
Poa pratensis Kentucky Bluegrass
Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum perfoliatum Mile-a-minute weed
Populus alba White poplar
Pueraria montana var. lobata Kudzu
Rhamnus cathartica European Buckthorn
Rhamnus frangula Glossy Buckthorn
Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust
Rosa multiflora Multiflora Rose
Saponaria officinalis Bouncing bet (soapwort)
Silene vulgaris Bladder campion
Torilis arvensis Hedge parsley
Torilis japonica Japanese hedge parsley
Typha angustifolia Narrow-Leaved Cattail
Typha x glauca Hybrid cat-tail (T. ang x T. lat)
Ulmus pumila Siberian Elm
Vinca minor Periwinkle
Vincetoxicum spp. Dog Strangling Vine

References:

Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN)

City of Ann Arbor Invasive Species List, 2004

Debby Gelber and William Schneider, Invasive Species Survey. University of Michigan, 1992

The Nature Conservancy, 1998-1999 Weed Survey

Stephen Packard and Cornelia F. Mutel, Eds., The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook. Island Press, 1997