Priority Species

High Priority Invasive Plant Species:

Threats posed and where the plants occur in the parks

Invasive exotic plants that threaten rare, endangered, or sensitive species

European Beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria). Beaches.
Eliminates areas of open sand which could be used as nesting sites by the snowy plover, a federally listed threatened native bird species. Displaces beach layia, a federally listed endangered native plant species. Displaces pink sand verbena and Wolf's evening primrose, two sensitive native plant species. Impairs and threatens integrity of native dunemat ecosystem.
Yellow Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus). Beaches.
Displaces beach layia, a federally listed endangered native plant species. Displaces pink sand verbena and Wolf's evening primrose, two sensitive native plant species. Cross pollinates with native blue lupine (Lupinus rivularis). Impairs and threatens integrity of native dunemat ecosystem.
Ice Plant, Sea Fig (Carpobrotus chilensis). Beaches.
Displaces beach layia, a federally listed endangered native plant species. Displaces pink sand verbena and Wolf's evening primrose, two sensitive native plant species. Impairs and threatens integrity of native dunemat ecosystem.
Garden Evening Primrose (Oenothera glazioviana). Beaches, coastal bluffs.
Cross pollinates with Wolf's evening primrose (Oenothera wolfii), a sensitive native plant species.

Some other invasive exotic plants that pose major threats

English ivy (Hedera helix). Old homesteads and adjacent forests. Impairs and threatens integrity of native forests, including the ancient redwood forests identified as the prime resource of the parks.
Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius). Bald Hills prairies, roadsides, recently logged lands. Impairs and threatens integrity of Bald Hills prairies.
Cape ivy (Delairea odorada). Old homesteads, coastal bluffs and scrub, stream corridors. Impairs and threatens integrity of coastal scrub.
Pampas/Jubata Grass (Cortaderia jubata). Coastal bluffs, coastal scrub, estuaries, recently logged lands. Impairs and threatens integrity of coastal scrub.
Tall Oatgrass (Arrhenatherum elatius). Bald Hills prairies. Impairs and threatens integrity of Bald Hills prairie ecosystem.
Himalaya berry (Rubus discolor). Fencelines, stream corridors, pastures, prairies. Can displace some native species and impair several kinds of native ecosystems. Hosts rats, threatens structures.
Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). Grasslands, roadsides, recently logged lands. Toxic to cattle and horses.

This list of high priority invasive plant species was developed from an exotic species threat assessment for the Redwood National and State Parks Exotic Plant Management Plan.