APPENDIX F: NOXIOUS WEEDS AND INVASIVE PLANTS

Noxious Weeds
Scientific Name	Noxious Common Name
Cannabis sativa L.	marijuana
Carduus nutans L.	musk thistle, nodding thistle
Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.	Canadian thistle
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.	Bull thistle, spear thistle
Datura starmonium L.	jimsonweed
Galega officinalis L.	goatsrue
Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier	giant hogweed
Lythrum salicaha L.	purple loosestrife
Polygonum perfoliatum L.	mile-a-minute
Pueraha Montana (Lour.) Merr. var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S. Almeida Pueraha lobata (Willd.) Ohwi	kudzu-vine
Rosa multiflora Thunb.	multiflora rose
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench	shattercane
Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.	Johnsongrass
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 2000; Pennsylvania noxious weed control list (20 October 2003); Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

 

Invasive Plants
The species listed below are serious threats to our native ecosystems. Some have also been designated “Noxious Weeds” by the PA Department of Agriculture.
Flowers
Scientific Name	Common Name	Notes
Aegopodium podagraria	Goutweed	Commonly planted in the past and escaped; spreads aggressively by roots
Alliaha petiolata	Garlic mustard	Invasive in many states; spreading aggressively in woodlands by seed
Carduus nutans	Musk thistle	PA noxious Weed
Cirsium arvense	Canada thistle	PA noxious Weed
Cirsium vulgare	Bull thistle	PA noxious Weed
Datura stramonium	Jimsonweed	Sometimes cultivated; spreads by seed, PA Noxious Weed
Galega officinalis	Goatsrue	PA and Federal Noxious Weed
Heracleum mantegazzianum	Giant hogweed	PA and Federal Noxious Weed, sap can cause burning blisters
Hesperis matronalis	Dame’s rocket	Planted in gardens; escaped and naturalized along roads; spreads by seed
Lythrum salicaha, L. virgatum	Purple loosestife	Garden escape which has become invasive in many states; PA noxious Weed
Myriophyllum spicatum	Eurasian water-milfoil	Invasive in many states; aquatic
Ornithogallum nutans, umbellatum	Star-of-Bethlehem	Common garden plant which has widely escaped
Pastinaca sativa	Wild parsnip	Found commonly along roadsides; widespread and abundant; spread by seed
Perilla frutescens	Beefsteak plant	Garden escape; widespread mostly along roadsides; spread by seed
Polygonum (Falopia) cuspidatum	Japanese knotweed	Invasive in many states; difficult to control; spreads by roots and seeds
Ranunculus ficaria	Lesser celandine	Spreads by roots and shoots; can be very aggressive in wetlands
Trapa natans	Water chestnut	Wetland plant; should not be introduced as it will escape, spread, and naturalize

 

Grasses
Scientific Name	Common Name	Notes
Bromus tectorum	Cheatgrass	Annual grass; invasive throughout the west; spreads by seed
Microstegium vimineum	Japanese stilt grass	Annual grass; invasive in many states; spreading through woodlands by seed
Miscanthus sinensis	Maiden grass	Commonly planted ornamental grass which can escape and spread by seed
Phalaris arundinacea	Reed canary grass	Aggressive wetland grass; native and introduced strains; widespread and abundant
Phragmites australis	Common reed	Native and introduced strains; wetland grass which can form huge colonies
Sorghum bicolor ssp. Drummondii	Shattercane	PA noxious Weed
Sorghum halepense	Johnson grass	PA noxious Weed; spreads by roots and seeds

 

Shrubs
Scientific Name	Common Name	Notes
Berberis thunbergii	Japanese barberry	Escaped from cultivation and invasive in many states; spread by birds
Berberis vulgaris	European barberry	Escaped from cultivation; spread by birds
Elaegnus angustifolia	Russian olive	Escaped from plantings and invasive in many states; spread by birds
Elaeagnus umbellata	Autumn olive	Escaped from plantings and invasive in many states; rapidly spread by birds
Euonymus alatus	Winged Euonymus	Escaped from plantings; invasive in moist forests
Ligustrum obtusifolium	Border privet	Escaped from cultivation; seeds spread by birds
Ligustrum vulgare	Common privet	Planted very commonly in the past and escaped; invasive in many states
Lonicera maackii	Amur honeysuckle	Escaped from plantings; seeds spread by birds
Lonicera morrowii	Morrow’s honeysuckle	Escaped from plantings and invasive in many states; seeds spread by birds
Lonicera morrowii x tatarica	Bell’s honeysuckle	Escaped from cultivation
Lonicera standishii	Standish honeysuckle	Escaped from plantings; seeds spread by birds
Lonicera tartarica	Tartarian honeysuckle	Escaped from plantings; seeds spread by birds
Rhamnus catharticus	Common buckthorn	Becoming a problem in PA
Rhamnus frangula	Glossy buckthorn	Becoming a problem in PA
Rubus phoenicolasius	Wineberry	Common bramble; not cultivated; spread by seed
Rosa multiflora	Multiflora rose	Invasive in many states; seeds spread by birds; PA noxious Weed
Spiraea japonica	Japanese spiraea	Frequently planted; escaped in some areas
Viburnum opulus var. opulus	Guelder rose	Resembles native Viburnum thlobum which it replaces; both are cultivated and planted

 

Trees
Scientific Name	Common Name	Notes
Acer platanoides	Norway maple	Commonly planted and escaped; invasive in many states; wind spreads prolific seeds
Acer pseudoplatanus	Sycamore maple	Escaped from cultivation; wind spreads prolific seeds
Ailanthus altissima	Tree-of-heaven	Invasive in many states; wind spreads prolific seeds
Paulownia tomentosa	Princess tree	Prolific seeds fall to start new seedlings
Pyrus calleryana	Callery pear	Commonly planted street tree; becoming a problem as an escape
Ulmus pumila	Siberian elm	Escaped from cultivation

 

Vines
Scientific Name	Common Name	Notes
Akebia quinata	Fiveleaf akebia	Escaped from cultivation
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata	Porcelain-berry	Escaped from cultivation
Celastrus orbiculatus	Oriental bittersweet	Escaped from cultivation and invasive in many states; spreading rapidly (by birds)
Lonicera japonica	Japanese honeysuckle	Invasive in many states
Polygonum perfoliatum	Mile-a-minute vine	Range expanding; PA Noxious Weed
Pueraria lobata	Kudzu	Invasive in many states; PA Noxious Weed

 

This list of invasive species is not meant to be definitive, but rather a guideline to some of the most troublesome species that degrade native plant communities in Pennsylvania. These species were chosen from a more extensive list compiled from adjacent state or regional lists of invasive plant species. Input was sought from experienced individuals familiar with Pennsylvania’s flora from a field perspective. For more extensive information on invasive species, visit the DCNR Invasive Exotic Plant Tutorial webpage.