September 2009 Key

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

MPC F P S HMX

Highly Invasive Species

Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-heaven zzzzz z

Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard zz zzz z

Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator weed zzz z

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Porcelain-berry z zzz z

Carex kobomugi Asiatic sand sedge zzz z

Celastrus orbiculata Oriental bittersweet zzz zz z

Centaurea dubia Short-fringed knapweed z zz zz

Centaurea biebersteinii Spotted knapweed zzzzz z

Cirsium arvense Canada thistle zzzz z

Dioscorea oppositifolia Chinese yam zzz zz z

Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn olive zzzzz z

Euonymus alata Winged burning bush z zz z

Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla zzz z

Imperata cylindrica Cogon grass z zz z

Lespedeza cuneata Chinese lespedeza zz z z

Ligustrum sinense Chinese privet zzz zz z

Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle zzzzzz z

Lonicera morrowii Morrow's honeysuckle zz zzz z

Lonicera standishii Standish's honeysuckle zz zz z

Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife zzzz zz

Microstegium vimineum Japanese stilt grass zzzzzzzz

H = Hydric

M = Mesic

X = Xeric

F = Full sun

P = Part Sun

S = Shade

M = Mountains

P = Piedmont

C = Coastal 

REGION LIGHT MOISTURE

Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia

Department of Conservation and Recreation

Division of Natural Heritage

217 Governor Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219

(804) 786-7951

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage

Virginia Native Plant Society

Blandy Experimental Farm

400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2

Boyce, Virginia 22620

(540) 837-1600

http://www.vnps.org
September 2009 Key

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

MPC F P S HMX

H = Hydric

M = Mesic

X = Xeric

F = Full sun

P = Part Sun

S = Shade

M = Mountains

P = Piedmont

C = Coastal 

REGION LIGHT MOISTURE

Murdannia keisak Aneilema zzzz z

Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrot feather zzzz z

Myriophyllum spicatum European water-milfoil zzzz z

Phragmites australis Common reed zzzz zz

Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese knotweed zzzzz z

Polygonum perfoliatum Mile-a-minute z zzz z

Pueraria montana Kudzu vine zzzzzz z

Ranunculus ficaria Lesser celandine z zz z

Rosa multiflora Multiflora rose zzzzz z

Rubus phoenicolasius Wineberry zzz zz z

Sorghum halepense Johnson-grass zzzzz z

Vitex rotundifolia Beach vitex zz z

Acer platanoides Norway maple zzzzz z

Agropyron repens Quack grass zzzzz z

Agrostis tenuis Rhode Island bent-grass zz zz z

Akebia quinata Five-leaf akebia zzzzz z

Albizia julibrissin Mimosa zzzzz z

Allium vineale Wild onion zzzzz z

Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort zzzzz zz

Arthraxon hispidus Jointed grass zzzzzzzz

Arundo donax Giant reed zzzz zz

Berberis thunbergii Japanese barberry zzzzzz z

Carduus nutans Musk thistle zzzz z

Cassia obtusifolia Sickle pod zzzz zz

Centaurea jacea Brown knapweed zz zz zz

Cirsium vulgare Bull-thistle zzzz z

Convolvulus arvensis Field-bindweed zzzzz z

Dipsacus laciniatus Cut-leaf teasel zz z

Dipsacus sylvestris Common teasel zzzz zz

Egeria densa Brazilian water-weed zzzzz z

Highly Invasive Species - continued

Moderately Invasive Species
September 2009 Key

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

MPC F P S HMX

H = Hydric

M = Mesic

X = Xeric

F = Full sun

P = Part Sun

S = Shade

M = Mountains

P = Piedmont

C = Coastal 

REGION LIGHT MOISTURE

Euonymus fortunei Wintercreeper z zzzz

Festuca elatior (F. pratensis ) Tall fescue zzzzz z

Foeniculum vulgare Fennel zzz zzz

Glechoma hederacea Gill-over-the-ground zzz zz z

Hedera helix English ivy zzzzz z

Holcus lanatus Velvet-grass zzzzz zz

Humulus japonicus Japanese hops zzzzzzzz

Ipomoea hederacea Ivy-leaved morning-glory zzzzz zz

Ipomoea purpurea Common morning-glory zzzz z

Iris pseudacorus Yellow flag zzzzz z

Ligustrum obtusifolium Blunt-leaved privet zz z z

Lonicera maackii Amur honeysuckle zz z z

Lonicera tatarica Tartarian honeysuckle zz zz z

Lysimachia nummularia Moneywort zzzzzzzz

Melia azedarach China-berry zzzz z

Paulownia tomentosa Princess tree zzzzz z

Phleum pratense Timothy zzzzz z

Phyllostachys aurea Golden bamboo zzzz z

Poa compressa Canada bluegrass zzzzzz zz

Poa trivialis Rough bluegrass zzzzzzzz

Polygonum cespitosum Bristled knotweed zzzzzzzz

Populus alba White poplar zzzzz z

Rumex acetosella Red sorrel zzzzz z

Rumex crispus Curled dock zz z zz

Setaria faberi Giant foxtail zzzz z

Spiraea japonica Japanese spiraea zz zzzz

Stellaria media Common chickweed zzzzzz z

Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved speedwell zzzzzz z

Wisteria sinensis Chinese wisteria zz zz z

Xanthium strumarium Common cocklebur zzzzz zz

Moderately Invasive Species - continued
September 2009 Key

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

MPC F P S HMX

H = Hydric

M = Mesic

X = Xeric

F = Full sun

P = Part Sun

S = Shade

M = Mountains

P = Piedmont

C = Coastal 

REGION LIGHT MOISTURE

Agrostis gigantea Redtop zzzzz z

Ajuga reptans Bugleweed zzzzz zz

Arrhenatherum elatius Oatgrass zzzzz z

Commelina communis Common dayflower zzzzz z

Conium maculatum Poison hemlock zzzzz z

Coronilla varia Crown-vetch zzzz zz

Dactylis glomerata Orchard grass zzzzz z

Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian olive zzzzz z

Elaeagnus pungens Thorny elaeagnus zz z z

Eragrostis curvula Weeping lovegrass zzzz zz

Euphorbia esula Leafy spurge zz zz z

Ipomoea coccinea Red morning-glory zzzz z

Lapsana communis Nipplewort z zz z

Lespedeza bicolor Shrubby bushclover zzzzz z

Lonicera fragrantissima Sweet breath of spring z zz z

Lonicera x bella Bell's honeysuckle zzzzz z

Lotus corniculatus Birdsfoot trefoil zzzzz zz

Melilotus alba White sweet clover zzzzz z

Melilotus officinalis Yellow sweet clover zzzzz z

Miscanthus sinensis Silver grass zzzzz z

Morus alba White mulberry zzzzz z

Pastinaca sativa Wild parsnip zzzzz z

Perilla frutescens Beefsteak plant zzz zz z

Trapa natans Water chestnut zz zz

Ulmus pumila Siberian elm z zz z

Viburnum dilatatum Linden viburnum z zz z

Vinca minor & V. major Periwinkle zzzzzz z

Wisteria floribunda Japanese wisteria z zz z

Occasionally Invasive Species
About the List 

This advisory list is published by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 

(VDCR) to inform land managers of potential risks associated with certain plant species 

known to exhibit invasive behavior in some situations. The list is not regulatory in nature, 

and thus does not prohibit the use of the plant species listed. 

VDCR and Virginia Native Plant Society use detailed criteria to assess the invasiveness 

of a plant. Factors used to rank each species include: cumulative impacts on natural areas; 

impacts on other species; potential to disperse and invade natural landscapes; distribution 

and abundance; and difficulty to manage. 

Invasiveness Ranking 

Highly invasive species exhibit the most invasive tendencies in natural areas and native 

plant habitats. They may disrupt ecosystem processes and cause major alterations in plant 

community composition and structure. They establish readily in natural systems and 

spread rapidly. 

Moderately invasive species may have minor influence on ecosystem processes, alter 

plant community composition, and affect community structure in at least one layer. They 

may become dominant in the understory layer without threatening all species found in the 

community. These species usually require a minor disturbance to become established. 

Occasionally invasive species generally do not affect ecosystem processes but may alter 

plant community composition by outcompeting one or more native plant species. They 

often establish in severely disturbed areas. The disturbance may be natural or human 

origin, such as icestorm damage, windthrow, or road construction. These species spread 

slowly or not at all from disturbed sites. 

Regions 

For the purpose of this list, the state has been divided into three regions: Coastal Plain, 

Piedmont, and Mountains. The Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions follow conventional 

physiographic province boundaries. The Mountain region combines the Blue Ridge, 

Ridge and Valley, and Appalachian Plateau physiographic provinces. 

Habitat Requirements 

The categories for light and soil requirements are very broad and are only meant to give 

general indication of habitat adaptations for these plants.