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Invasive species photo gallery

Non-native plant species

Inclusion in the list does not imply any legal restrictions for these plants. However, these plants and some of their cultivars have the potential to invade wild areas, outcompete native species, and degrade habitats. Some species may even cause extensive ecological damage.

This field guide has been developed to provide ID and control information for terrestrial invasive plants. Printed copies are now available to order using this order form, or feel free to download and print off now from our publication catalog.

Click on a thumbnail to view photos available for that plant species, or view these plant species sorted by common name.

For further plant identification assistance, visit University of Wisconsin Weed ID [exit DNR].

See also native plant species.

Photo of Norway maple by Damon Smith.

Acer platanoides

Photo of Amur maple by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala

Photo of Bishop's goutweed by Nisa Karimi.

Aegopodium podagraria

Photo of Tree of heaven by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Ailanthus altissima

Photo of Garlic mustard  by  Wisconsin DNR.

Alliaria petiolata

Photo of Black (European) alder by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Alnus glutinosa

Photo of Porcelain berry  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata

Photo of Wild chervil  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Anthriscus sylvestris

Photo of Burdock by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Arctium minus

Photo of Blackberry lilly by Richard Bauer.

Belamcanda chinensis

Photo of Japanese barberry by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Berberis thunbergii

Photo of Hoary alyssum by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Berteroa incana

Photo of Smooth brome by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Bromus inermis

Photo of cheat grass, downy brome by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Bromus tectorum

Photo of Flowering rush  by Kitty Kohout.

Butomus umbellatus

Photo of Creeping bellflower  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Campanula rapunculoides

Photo of Siberian peashrub by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Caragana arborescens

Photo of Plumeless thistle  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Carduus acanthoides

Photo of Musk thistle or Nodding thistle by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Carduus nutans

Photo of Oriental bittersweet  by S. Kelly Kearns.

Celastrus orbiculatus

Photo of Spotted knapweed  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Centaurea biebersteinii, Centaurea maculosa or Centaurea stoebe

Photo of Russian knapweed by S. Kelly Kearns.

Centaurea repens

Photo of Celandine  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Chelidonium majus

Photo of Chicory by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Cichorium intybus

Photo of Canada thistle by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Cirsium arvense

Photo of European marsh thistle  by Steve Garske.

Cirsium palustre

Photo of Poison hemlock  by  Wisconsin DNR.

Conium maculatum

Photo of Lily-of-the-valley by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Convallaria majalis

Photo of Field bindweed by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Convolvulus arvensis

Photo of Crown vetch by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Coronilla varia

Photo of Hound’s tongue by Richard Bauer.

Cynoglossum officinale

Photo of Queen Anne's-lace by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Daucus carota

Photo of Grecian foxglove by  Wisconsin DNR.

Digitalis lanata

Photo of Chinese yam by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Dioscorea batatas or Dioscorea polystacha

Photo of Indian yam by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Dioscorea oppositifolia

Photo of Cut-leaved teasel by  Wisconsin DNR.

Dipsacus laciniatus

Photo of Common teasel  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Dipsacus sylvestris or Dipsacus fullonum

Photo of Russian olive  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Photo of Autumn olive  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Elaeagnus umbellata

Photo of Quackgrass by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Elytrigia repens

Photo of Hairy willow herb  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Epilobium hirsutum

Photo of Helleborine orchid  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Epipactis helleborine

Photo of Burning bush by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Euonymus alatus

Photo of Climbing euonymus, winter creeper  by  Wisconsin DNR.

Euonymus fortunei

Photo of Cypress spurge  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Euphorbia cyparissias

Photo of Leafy spurge  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Euphorbia esula

Photo of Japanese knotweed  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Fallopia japonica or Polygonum cuspidatum

Photo of Giant knotweed  by Emmet Judziewicz.

Fallopia sachalinensis or Polygonum sachalinense

Photo of Queen of the meadow by Stephen Solheim.

Filipendula ulmaria

Photo of Creeping charlie by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Glechoma hederacea

Photo of Baby's breath by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Gypsophila paniculata

Photo of English ivy by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Hedera helix

Photo of Orange daylily by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Hemerocallis fulva

Photo of Giant hogweed  by Steve Kenyon.

Heracleum mantegazzianum

Photo of Orange hawkweed by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Hieracium aurantiacum

Photo of Tall hawkweed by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Hieracium piloselloides

Photo of Japanese hops  by David Eagan.

Humulus japonicus

Photo of Hydrilla  by Elizabeth Czarapata.

Hydrilla verticillata

Photo of European frogbit by Erich Haber.

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae

Photo of Common St. John's-wort by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Hypericum perforatum

Photo of Balfour's touch-me-not by S. Kelly Kearns.

Impatiens balfourii

Photo of Everlasting pea by Emmet Judziewicz.

Lathyrus latifolius

Photo of Ox-eye daisy by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Leucanthemum vulgare

Photo of Wild/European Privet by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Ligustrum vulgare

Photo of Butter and  Eggs by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Linaria vulgaris

Photo of Japanese honeysuckle  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Lonicera japonica

Photo of Amur honeysuckle  by Dan Tenaglia.

Lonicera maackii

Photo of Morrow’s honeysuckle by Kenneth Sytsma.

Lonicera morrowii

Photo of honeysuckle by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Lonicera spp.

Photo of Tartarian honeysuckle  by  Wisconsin DNR.

Lonicera tatarica

Photo of Bell’s or showy bush honeysuckle by Michael Clayton.

Lonicera x bella

Photo of Bird's-foot trefoil by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Lotus corniculata

Photo of Moneywort by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Lysimachia nummularia (or L. nummelaria)

Photo of Purple loosestrife  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Lythrum salicaria

Photo of White sweet-clover by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Melilotus alba

Photo of Yellow sweet-clover by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Melilotus officinalis

Photo of Japanese stilt grass  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Microstegium vimineum

Photo of Chinese silvergrass, Eulalia by  Wisconsin DNR.

Miscanthus sinensis

Photo of White mulberry by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Morus alba

Photo of Aquatic forget-me-not by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Myosotis scorpioides

Photo of Woodland forget-me-not by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Myosotis sylvatica (or M. sylvaticum)

Photo of Parrot feather  by  Wisconsin DNR.

Myriophyllum aquaticum

Photo of Eurasian watermilfoil by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Myriophyllum spicatum

Photo of Watercress by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Nasturtium officinale

Photo of Star-of-Bethlehem by Richard Bauer.

Ornithogalum umbellatum

Photo of Wild parsnip by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Pastinaca sativa

Photo of Reed canary grass by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Phalaris arundinacea

Photo of Phragmites or Common reed non-native ecotype by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Phragmites australis non-native ecotype

Photo of Scotch pine by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Pinus sylvestris

Photo of Black bindweed by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Polygonum convolvulus

Photo of Mile-a-minute vine by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Polygonum perfoliatum or Persicaria perfoliata

Photo of White poplar by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Populus alba

Photo of Curly-leaf pondweed by Wisconsin DNR.

Potamogeton crispus

Photo of Kudzu  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Pueraria montana or P. lobata

Photo of Lesser celandine by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Ranunculus ficaria

Photo of Common buckthorn  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Rhamnus cathartica

Photo of Glossy buckthorn by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Rhamnus frangula or Frangula alnus

Photo of Black jet-bead by John Randall.

Rhodotypos scandens

Photo of Black locust by Williams Bernie.

Robinia pseudoacacia

Photo of Multiflora rose  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Rosa multiflora

Photo of Wineberry or wine raspberry by John Randall.

Rubus phoenicolasius

Photo of Field, sheep sorrel by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Rumex acetosella

Photo of Bouncing-bet by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Saponaria officinalis

Photo of Yellow sedum by Richard Bauer.

Sedum acre

Photo of Deadly, woody nightshade by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Solanum dulcamara

Photo of Johnsongrass by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Sorghum halepense

Photo of Tansy by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Tanacetum vulgare

Photo of Spreading hedgeparsley by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Torilis arvensis

Photo of Japanese hedgeparsley or erect hedgeparsley by S. Kelly Kearns.

Torilis japonica

Photo of Water chestnut  by  Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

Trapa natans

Photo of Narrow-leaf cattail  by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Typha angustifolia

Photo of Hybrid cattail by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Typha x glauca

Photo of Siberian elm by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Ulmus pumila

Photo of Garden heliotrope or Valerian by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Valeriana officinalis

Photo of Mullein by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Verbascum thapsus

Photo of Periwinkle by Elizabeth J. Czarapata.

Vinca minor

Photo of Black or Louise’s swallow-wort by  Wisconsin DNR.

Vincetoxicum nigrum or Cynanchum louiseae

Photo of Pale or European swallow-wort by John Randall.

Vincetoxicum rossicum or Cynanchum rossicum

Last revised: Thursday, October 28, 2021