Scientific Name

Common Name

Notes

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 trilobum 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

* An asterix (*) denotes that a species has cultivars that are not known to be invasive. Cultivars are cultivated varieties of plant species bred for predictable attributes like shorter height, showier flowers, or colored foliage. An example is Norway Maple 'Crimson King' grown for its reddish leaves; this cultivar is not known to be invasive. If you choose to plant a cultivar of an invasive species, ask a PA certified horticulturist (PCH), your Penn State extension agent, or a professional horticulturist about the cultivar's potential to be invasive.

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 a more extensive list of invasive species, please contact DCNR, Bureau of Forestry, P.O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8552

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