Invasive Plants in the Mid-Atlantic
On this page
- What Are Invasive Plants and Why Are They a Concern?
- Plant Lists
- State-Specific Invasive Plant Information
What Are Invasive Plants and Why Are They a Concern?
They are non-native plants . . .- primarily exotic plants - those that originated in another part of the country or world
- spread out of control and overwhelm native vegetation
- mix with native plants altering their genetic makeup
- harbor pests harmful to other plants
- produce toxins lethal to certain animals
When one species takes over a large area it can also alter hydrological patterns, fire regimes and soil chemistry, moisture-holding capacity, wildlife habitat, and erodibility. All told, invasive plants cause billions of dollars of damage each year and tens of millions of dollars are spent annually trying to control them. One of the more notorious examples is kudzu, a quick-growing vine that was introduced in the Southeastern US as a quick-growing groundcover for disturbed areas like highway embankments. A native of Asia, it has now spread from East Texas to New England where it has smothered 7 million acres of forest.
Invasive Landscape Plants of the Mid-Atlantic States
Avoid their use, consider removing from the landscape. Partial list from those identified in "Plant Invaders of the Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas," Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service.
- Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
- Bamboos (Bambusa, Phyllostachys, Pseudosassa species)
- Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis)
- Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
- Privets (Ligustrum species)
- Burning bush (Euonymus alata)
- Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana Bradford)
- Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
- Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
- Mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin)
- Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera species)
- Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
- English ivy (Hedera helix)
- Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
- Porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
- Chinese and Japanese wisterias (Wisteria sinensis, Wisteria floribunda)
Other Invasive Plants Lists and Information
- Citizen's Guide to the Control of Invasive Plants in Wetland and Riparian Areas - Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (PDF) (59 pp, 1.6MB, About PDF)
- Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States: Identification and Control
- Kick the Invasive Exotic Gardening Habit with Great Native Plant Alternatives - National Arboretum
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance - Alien Plant Working Group
- Weeds Gone Wild - National Park Service
State-Specific Invasive Plant Information
National Invasive Species Information Center
US Department of Agriculture Invasive and Noxious Weeds
By State
Delaware
- Delaware Invasive Species Council - Delaware Department of Agriculture
- Invasive Plant List - Planting for a Livable Delaware (PDF) (37 pp, 9.1MB, About PDF)
- Invasive Species Tracking Center - Delaware - US Geological Survey
Maryland
- Invasive Plants - Taking on the Invaders of Maryland - The Nature Conservancy
- Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
- Maryland Home and Garden Information Center - University of Maryland
- Maryland Invasive or Exotic Species - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Pennsylvania
- Invasive Exotic Plant Management Tutorial for Natural Lands Managers - Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Invasive Plants in the Wissahickon Watershed, Philadelphia - Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers
Virginia
West Virginia
- Dirty Dozen - West Virginia Department of Natural Resources
- Invasive Plants in West Virginia - West Virginia Department of Natural Resources