New Mexico Department of Agriculture 

Office of the Director/Secretary

 MSC 3189 

 New Mexico State University 

 P.O. Box 30005 

 Las Cruces, NM 88003-8005 

Phone: (575) 646-3007 

April 1, 2009 

MEMORANDUM 

TO: General Public 

FROM: I. Miley Gonzales, Ph.D. 

SUBJECT: New Mexico Noxious Weed List Update 

The Director of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture has selected the following plant species (see 

attached New Mexico Noxious Weed List) to be targeted as noxious weeds for control or eradication 

pursuant to the Noxious Weed Management Act of 1998. 

Petitions to add new plant species to the state noxious weed list were solicited and received by the New 

Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) from Cooperative Weed Management Areas, individuals, 

agencies and organizations. The petitions were reviewed by the New Mexico Weed List Advisory 

Committee using ecological, distribution, impact, and legal status criteria within the State of New Mexico 

and adjoining states. 

During its review the committee recommended the establishment of a new “watch list” category. This 

category contains plant species that have the potential to be problematic. More data is needed in order to 

determine if the species should be listed. Placing a plant species on the watch list will raise awareness of 

the species, and promote data collection and reporting efforts statewide. This will provide the data 

needed to determine if the plant should be listed. 

This list does not include every plant species with the potential to negatively impact the state’s 

environment or economy. Landowners and land managers are encouraged to recognize plant species 

listed on the federal noxious weed list and other western states’ noxious weed lists as potentially having 

negative impacts and to manage them accordingly. 

attachment: New Mexico Noxious Weed List 

IMG/jm/jw 
Hydrilla Hydrilla verticllata

New Mexico Noxious Weed List

Update April 2009

Class A Species

Class A species are currently not present in New Mexico, or have limited distribution.  Preventing new

infestations of these species and eradicating existing infestations is the highest priority.

Commom Name Scientific Name

Alfombrilla Drymaria arenariodes

Black henbane Hyoscyamus niger

Camelthorn Alhagi psuedalhagi

Canada thistle Cirsium arvense

Dalmation toadflax Linaria dalmatica

Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa

Dyer’s woad Isatis tinctoria

Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum

Giant salvinia Salvinia molesta

Hoary cress Cardaria spp.

Hydrilla Hydrilla verticllata

Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula

Oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare

Parrotfeather Myriophyllum aquaticum

Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

Purple starthistle Centaurea calcitrapa

Ravenna grass Saccharum ravennae

Scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium

Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii

Yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis

Yellow toadflax Linaria vulgaris

Class B Species

Class B Species are limited to portions of the state.  In areas with severe infestations, management

should be designed to contain the infestation and stop any further spread.

Common Name Scientific Name

African rue Peganum harmala

Chicory Cichorium intybus

Halogeton Halogeton glomeratus

Malta starthistle Centaurea melitensis

Musk thistle Carduus nutans

Perennial pepperweed Lepidium latifolium
Watch List species are species of concern in the state These species have the potential to become problematic

Wall rocket Diplotaxis tenuifolia

Russian knapweed Acroptilon repens

Poison hemlock Conium maculatum

Teasel Dipsacus fullonum

Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima

Class C Species

Class C species are wide‐spread in the state.  Management decisions for these species should be

determined at the local level,  based on feasibility of control and level of infestation.

Common Name Scientific Name

Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare

Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum

Jointed goatgrass Aegilops cylindrica

Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia

Saltcedar Tamarix spp.

Siberian elm Ulmus pumila

Watch List Species

Watch                  List species are species of concern in the state.                 These species have the potential to become problematic.  

More data is needed to determine if these species should be listed. When these species are encountered

please document their location and contact appropriate authorities.

Common Name Scientific Name

Crimson fountaingrass Pennisetum setaceum

Giant cane Arundo donax

Meadow knapweed Centaurea pratensis

Pampas grass Cortaderia sellonana

Quackgrass Elytrigia repens

Sahara mustard Brassica tournefortii

Spiny cocklebur Xanthium spinosum