Invasive Plant

Pest Species

of South Carolina

Species List by Severity of Threat (from previous page) and by Growth Form

Distribution codes: (Based upon maps of South Carolina Plant Atlas) M=mountains, P=piedmont, CP=coastal plain

Trees

Severe Threat:

Triadica sebifera, Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebifera in Atlas) .................................................................. PCP

Significant Threat :

Ailanthus altissima, Tree of heaven .............................................................................................................. MPCP

Albizia julibrissin, Mimosa, Silktree ............................................................................................................... MPCP

Melia azedarach, Chinaberry ........................................................................................................................ MPCP

Paulownia tomentosa, Princess tree .................................................................................................................. MP

Shrubs

Severe Threat:

Elaeagnus angustifolia, Russian Olive – Not in Atlas

Elaeagnus pungens, Thorny Olive ..................................................................................................................... MP

Elaeagnus umbellata, Autumn Olive .................................................................................................................. MP

Ligustrum japonicum, Japanese Privet ........................................................................................................ MPCP

Ligustrum sinensis, Chinese Privet .............................................................................................................. MPCP

Rosa multiflora, Multiflora Rose ................................................................................................................... MPCP

Significant Threat:

Lespedeza bicolor, Two Color Bush Clover ................................................................................................. MPCP

Mahonia bealei, Leatherleaf Mahonia ................................................................................................................... P

Mahonia nervosa, Cascade Oregon Grape ....................................................................................................... CP

Nandina domestica, Nadina, Sacred Bamboo ..................................................................................................... M

Vines

Severe Threat:

Lonicera japonica, Japanese Honeysuckle .................................................................................................. MPCP

Pueraria lobata, Kudzu ................................................................................................................................. MPCP

Wisteria sinensis, Chinese Wisteria ............................................................................................................. MPCP

Wisteria floribunda, Asian Wisteria ....................................................................................................................... P

Significant Threat:

Hedera helix, English Ivy .............................................................................................................................. MPCP

Lygodium japonicum, Japanese Climbing Fern ............................................................................................ MPCP

Vitex rotundifolia, Beach Vitex ............................................................................................................................ CP

Grasses, sedges

Severe Threat:

Microstegium vimineum, Japanese stilt grass ............................................................................................ MPCP

Phragmites australis, Common reed .................................................................................................................. CP

Significant Threat:

Arundo donax, Giant Reed ........................................................................................................................... MPCP

Paspalum notatum, Bahia grass .................................................................................................................. MPCP

Phyllostachys aurea Bamboo ........................................................................................................................... PCP

Miscanthus sinensis, Chinese Silvergrass .................................................................................................. MPCP

Schedonorus arundinaceus, Tall Fescue – Not in Atlas (Schedonorus arundinaceus or

 Festuca arundinaceus)

Herbs

Severe Threat:

Murdannia keisak, Wart Removing Herb ...................................................................................................... MPCP

Significant Threat:

Carduus nutans, Nodding Thistle, Marsh Thistle .............................................................................................. MP

Cirsium vulgare, Bull Thistle ...............................................................................................................................MP

Reynoutria japonica, Japanese Knotweed – Not in Atlas

Solanum viarum, Tropical Soda Apple – Not in Atlas

SO UTH CARO LINA

SC-EPPC

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society
Invasive, or exotic pest plant species are a growing problem in South Carolina.

Nonnative plant invasions can be seen in natural areas, croplands, rangelands,

pastures, forests, wetlands and waterways, wilderness areas, parks and refuges, and

highway rights-of-way. Not all non-native plants are invasive. In fact, a large number of

our agricultural crops and ornamental plants are non-native (exotic) in origin. Exotic

plants are only a problem when they escape cultivation, spread rapidly and

aggressively compete with native species. Invasive plant populations can grow, adapt,

multiply, and spread to unmanageable levels, often overwhelming entire landscapes.

Invasives significantly reduce plant biodiversity and can be a severe threat to stability

and sustainability of ecosystems.

Management of invasive, nonnative plant species is difficult and complex. It is

estimated that 100 million acres in the United States are already impacted by invasive

plant species. Preventing further spread of invasive plants and recapturing impacted

sites is a monumental task that depends on public awareness, support, and

participation. This brochure shows and describes our top ten invasive plants as

determined by the South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council (SCEPPC). Additional

invasive species that are a potential threat are listed on the back panel.

Invasive Plant Pest Species of South Carolina

 What can you do to help?

O Many invasive plants are still sold commercially. If you see them at ornamental

nurseries or elsewhere, do not purchase or plant them in your yard.

O Inform others of the problems created by invasive species.

O Replace established invasive plants with alternative native species. More detailed

information on alternatives can be obtained from the South Carolina Native Plant

Society home page: www.scnps.org/

O Other good sources of information include the Clemson Cooperative Extension

Service (www.clemson.edu/public) and The Bugwood Network (www.bugwood.org).

O For eradication guidelines and assistance in locating contractors to conduct this

work contact the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service or The Department of

Plant Industry. (http://dpi.clemson.edu/PI_index.htm)

O Become an active member of the South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council. Mail a

check marked “SCEPPC Dues” and made payable to SCEPPC to: Larry Nelson,

SCEPPC, 272 Lehotsky Hall, Dept. of Forestry and Natural Resources, Clemson

University, Clemson, SC 29634-0317, or go to www.se-eepc.org, select South

Carolina, then Membership Form.

Common Reed

Phragmites australis

O Origin is not clear. Species is found in Asia,

Europe and North America.

O Clonal grass species with

woody hollow culms that

can grow up to 6 feet in

height.

O Largely a weed of natural

areas and presents a significant threat to biological diversity

along Atlantic coastal areas.

Wart-Removing Herb

Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) Hand.-Maz.

O Originally associated with rice

production in east Asia and likely was

imported with rice to be used as seed

in Louisiana and South Carolina.

Earliest records of existence are from

the 1920’s.

O Found in all coastal states from

Delaware to Louisiana.

O Dispersal is by seed and from

vegetative structures. Waterfowl favor

seed as a food source and are a suspected vector.

O Has an aggressive ability to establish and take over wetlands and marshes at the

exclusion of native plants.

South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Non-Native Invasive Plant

Species List - March, 2004

Definitions

Severe threat: Exotic invasive plant species which are known to pose a severe threat to the

composition, structure, or function of natural areas in the state of South Carolina.

Significant threat: Exotic invasive plant species which are not presently considered to spread as

All photos in this brochure courtesy of Forestry Images.org easily into native plant communities as the above. (OVER)

Bernd Blossey, Cornell University

James R. Allison, GA Dept. of Natural Resources

Milo Pyne, USDA-NRCS Plants Database
Chinese Tallow Tree

Triadica sebifera (L.) Small

Autumn Olive

Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.

O Introduced to South Carolina from China in the late

1700’s.

O Deciduous tree that grows to 60 feet in height

O Distinctive features include heart-shaped leaves that

turn yellow to red in the fall and fruit that resembles

popcorn.

O Fruit and seed are borne in terminal three-lobed

clusters that split, revealing white wax coated seeds.

O Seeds are dispersed

by birds and water.

O Vigorous

regeneration along streams, flood plains and

uplands is a hindrance to the establishment of

natural plant species and to forest regeneration.

O Introduced from China and Japan in

1830 – Widely planted for wildlife habitat

improvement.

O Deciduous bushy shrub that grows to 20

feet in height.

O Distinctive features are bright green

leaves with silver undersides and

production of many red berries in the fall.

O Prefers drier sites and is shade tolerant.

O Scattered trees in forest openings eventually

form dense stands that grow at the expense of

other species.

Wisteria (Chinese and Japanese)

Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC and W. floribunda (Wild) DC.

O Introduced from Asia in the early 1800’s

— traditional southern porch vine.

O Deciduous high climbing, twining, or

trailing leguminous woody vine up to 70

feet long.

O Distinguishing features

include showy, fragrant,

lavender to violet pealike flowers in spring, alternate, odd pinnately

compound leaves and large, velvety leguminous

pods.

O Spreads by rooting at nodes and water-dispersal

of seeds.

O Forms dense growth capable of killing trees and excluding other

plant species.

Japanese Stiltgrass

Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A Camus

O Native to Asia and first identified near

Knoxville, TN in 1919.

O Sprawling annual grass growing to 3 feet in

height.

O Prominent features – alternate, flat, two to

four inch leaves

and thin,

spikelike flowers.

O Prolific seeds remain viable for up to 3 years.

Spreads by water and hitchhiking on animals and

people.

O Will overtake and dominate sites on floodplains,

streamsides, forest edges, roadsides, ditchbanks,

trails, damp fields, swamps and lawns.

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

James R. Allison, GA Dept. of Natural Resources

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
O Introduced from China in the early to mid-1800’s.

O Semi-evergreen, thicket forming shrub growing to

30 feet in height.

O Distinguishing features are the leaves that grow

opposite in two rows at right angles to the stem,

white flowers that grow in panicles, and small

abundant fruit that range

from green in summer to

almost black in the fall.

O Spreads by abundant

bird and animal

dispersal and root

sprouts

O Privet is shade tolerant and forms dense thickets

particularly in bottomlands and along fencerows and

rights-of-way.

O Very few plants are found growing beneath thick

stands of privet.

Chinese Privet

Ligustrum sinense Lour.

Multiflora Rose

Rosa multiflora Thumb.ex Murr.

O Introduced from Asia and planted as an ornamental, as living

fences for livestock containment and for wildlife habitat.

O Deciduous climbing, arching and or trailing shrubs that grow

to 10 feet in height.

O Distinguishing features are the clustered

white flowers with yellow anthers,

pinnately compound leaves, sharp

thorns and red rose hips in the fall.

O Spreads by rooting stems, sprouts and seed dispersal by

animals.

O Forms small-to-large infestations that often climb trees. Thickets exclude other

desirable plant species and hinder site management.

Japanese Honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica Thunb.

O Introduced from Japan in the 1800’s and

planted as an ornamental and as deer

browse.

O Our most commonly occurring invasive

plant.

O Semi-evergreen to evergreen woody vine

that is high climbing and trailing to 80 feet.

O Distinguishing features include sweet, fragrant

flowers, brown hairy stem that is fissured and

sloughing with age, and green or black sphereshaped berries.

O Spreads by rooting at vine nodes and animal

dispersal of seed.

O Overwhelming thickets replace native species on forest margins and rights-of-way,

but is also shade tolerant and can be a problem in understories.

Kudzu

Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. var. lobata (Willd.)

Maesen & S. M. Almeida

O Introduced from China and Japan

in the early 1900’s.

O Deciduous woody leguminous

vine 30 to 100 feet long.

O Distinguishing features include

three-leaflet leaves, yellow-green

stems with erect golden hairs, lavender pea-like

flowers, flattened and hairy seed pods.

O Colonizes by vines rooting at

nodes and by wind-, animal-,

and water-dispersed seeds. Seed

viability is generally low.

O Rapid and dense growth completely overwhelms all other plant

species including large trees. Must have direct sunlight for rapid growth.

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service