Midwest Invasive Plant List

Over 300 plant species are considered to be invasive, noxious, or pests by one or more jurisdictions in the Midwestern U.S. The following regional list compiles all the plant species regulated through state law and/or listed as invasive by a state agency or invasive plant council in the eight-state region that MIPN serves. Click here to learn more about the risk assessment processes that are used to determine invasiveness.

The list is presented alphabetically by Latin name but is easily searchable by common or Latin name – just start typing in the search box! You can also sort the database by listing status by clicking the carrot next to each column header.

Links to the appropriate state laws or agency/plant council webpages are provided in the index below. If you are aware of an updated list or amended law, please help us keep this list up to date by emailing MIPN’s Coordinator at mipn@mortonarb.org.

Last updated June 2019. Please click here to download an Excel version of the most recent list.

Illinois Law

Aq = Illinois Aquatic Injurious Plant Species

N = Illinois noxious weed

E = Illinois exotic weed

Illinois list

A = Invasive plants of concern

 

Indiana Law

N = Indiana noxious weed

P = Prohibited plant species

Pt = Prohibited terrestrial plant

PAq = Prohibited aquatic plant

Indiana List1

H = High invasive rank

M = Medium invasive rank

L = Low invasive rank

C = Caution species

 

Iowa Law

Pr = Primary noxious weed

S = Secondary noxious weed

Aq = Prohibited aquatic plant

Iowa List

A = General invasive plant list

Michigan Law

N = Noxious weed

P = Prohibited plant species

R = Restricted plant species

Michigan List

A = Widespread distribution in 1 or more of MI's ecoregions

B = Local distribution in 1 or more of MI's ecogregions

C = Isolated distribution in 1 or more of MI's ecoregions

W = Watch List

 

Minnesota Law

MN Aquatic Plants

PAq = Prohibited aquatic plant

RAq = Restricted aquatic plant

MN Noxious weeds

E = Noxious weed, eradicate list

C = Noxious weed, control list

R = Noxious weed, restricted list

SR = Noxious weed, specially regulated list

Minnesota List

A = Terrestrial invasive plant

B = Terrestrial invasive plant, early detection species

Aq = Aquatic invasive plant

Missouri Law

A = General noxious weed list

Missouri List

A = General invasive plant list

Aq = Aquatic nuisance species

 

Ohio Law

P = Prohibited noxious weed

R = Restricted invasive plants

Ohio List6

A = Invasive

B = Pending further review

 

Wisconsin Law

N = Noxious Weed

P = Prohibited Invasive Plant

R = Restricted Invasive Plant

Wisconsin Lists

A = Invasive (IPAW) 2

INR = Invasive, not restricted (WI DNR)

C = Caution (WI DNR): aquatics and terrestrials

Plant Laws Lists
Common Name Scientific Name IL IN IA MI MN MO OH WI IL IN IA MI MN MO OH WI
velvetleaf Abutilon theophrasti S   A
Amur maple Acer ginnala, Acer tataricum ssp. ginnala SR R7,9   A
Norway maple Acer platanoides   H B A B C
Japanese chaff flower Achyranthes japonica Pt8 P   A H B
Russian knapweed, hardheads Acroptilon repens / Centaurea repens / Centaurea picris / Rhaponticum repens Pr N P P   C
Bishop’s goutweed Aegopodium podagraria R  
quackgrass Agropyron repens Pr N  
tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima Pt8 R R R   A H A A B A A
Fiveleaf akebia or Chocolate vine Akebia quinata P   A
silk tree/mimosa Albezia julibrissen   A A
garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata Pt8 R R R   A H A A A A A A
wild garlic Allium vineale   A
black alder Alnus glutinosa R7,9   H B
carelessweed, Palmer amaranth Amaranthus palmeri5 Pr E P  
tall waterhemp Amaranthus tuberculatus5 P  
common ragweed Ambrosia artemisifolia5 N  
giant ragweed Ambrosia trifida5 N  
porcelain berry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata R P   C C B
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata   C
wild chervil Anthriscus sylvestris P, R3  
common burdock Arctium minus   A B A
Wormwood Artemisia absinthium  
mugwort Artemisia vulgaris   H
small carpgrass Arthraxon hispidus Pt8   H B
giant reed Arundo donax P   C
mosquito fern Azolla pinnata Aq PAq P  
yellow rocket Barbarea vulgaris   B
forage kochia Bassia prostrata P  
kochia Bassia scoparia P  
Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii Pt8 R7 R7,9   A H A A A A A
common barberry Berberis vulgaris P C R P   C
Hoary alyssum Berteroa incana   A INR
caucasian bluestem Bothriochloa bladhii   A
yellow bluestem Bothriochloa ischaemum   A
wild mustard Brassica arvensis S  
wild mustard Brassica kaber var. pinnatifida P  
field brome Bromus arvensis   A
smooth brome Bromus inermis   A A INR
bald brome Bromus racemosus   A
rye brome Bromus secalinus   A
cheatgrass Bromus tectorum   A C
hill mustard Bunias orientalis P, R3  
flowering rush Butomus umbellatus Aq PAq Aq R PAq R R   A H B Aq A
fanwort Cabomba caroliniana P RAq P   C
European water-starwort, pond water-starwort Callitriche stagnalis   C
creeping bellflower Campanula rapunculoides R   A
Siberian peashrub Caragana arborescens R7,9   A
hairy bittercress Cardamine hirsuta   INR
narrowleaf bittercress Cardamine impatiens C P   M C B
hoary cress, perennial peppergrass Cardaria draba / Lepidium draba Pr N P  
plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides Pt8 C R   H C
musk thistle Carduus nutans N Pt8 N A P R   A H A B A A
thistle Carduus spp. Pr  
Asiatic sand sedge Carex kobomugi   W
caulerpa or Mediterranean killer algae Caulerpa taxifolia Aq PAq  
Asian bittersweet, oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus E Pt8 E R R   A H A A B A A
Asian loeseneri bittersweet Celastrus rosthornianus var. loeseneri P  
spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii, Centaurea maculosa or Centaurea stoebe Pt8 N C A R R   A H A A A A A A
diffuse knapweed, spreading starthistle Centaurea diffusa E P   B
brown knapweed Centaurea jacea E R  
knapweed Centaurea L.   A
black knapweed Centaurea nigra R  
tyrol knapweed Centaurea nigrescens R  
yellow star thistle Centaurea solstitialis E P   A C B
meadow knapweed Centaurea x moncktonii E   B
celandine Chelidonium majus R  
chicory Cichorium intybus   A
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum Pr  
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense N N Pr N C A P N,R   A H A A A A A A
bull thistle Cirsium lanceolatum Pt8 Pr  
European marsh thistle Cirsium palustre P, R3   B
thistle Cirsium spp. Pr  
bull thistle Cirsium vulgare N   A H A A A
sweet autumn virginsbower Clematis terniflora   C
poison hemlock Conium maculatum E Pt8 S P P, R3   H A A
lily of the valley Convallaria majalis   C INR
field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis Pt8 Pr N A P N   H B INR
hedge bindweed Convolvulus sepium N P  
marestail Conyza canadensis5 P  
Australian swamp crop Crassula helmsii PAq P  
hawksbeard Crepis tectorum   A
dodder Cuscuta spp. N  
cylindro Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii P  
black swallow-wort Cynanchum louiseae / Vincetoxium nigrum Pt8 E R P, R3   A H B B A
pale swallow-wort Cynanchum rossicum / Vincetoxicum rossicum Pt8 P   A H B
Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale R  
Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius P  
Wild carrot, Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota S R   M A A INR
Grecian foxglove Digitalis lanata Ehrh. E P   B
Chinese yam Dioscorea polystachya (oppositifolia) Pt8 P   A H W A A
common teasel Dipsacus fullonum / Dipsacus sylvestris Pt8 E A R R   A H A B A A A
cutleaf teasel Dipsacus laciniatus Pt8 E A R R   A H A B A A A
teasel Dipsacus spp. E S   A
Common teasel Dipsacus sylvestris R   A
Indian strawberry Duchesnea indica/Potentilla indica   A
Brazilian waterweed Egeria densa Aq PAq P RAq R P   A H W Aq
anchored water hyacinth Eichhornia azurea Aq PAq P   H
common water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes PAq P   C,W
Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia E R R   M A B A A A
thorny olive Elaeagnus pungens E  
autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata E Pt8 R R R   A H A A A A A
quackgrass Elytrigia repens/ Elymus repens/ Agropyron repens Pr N   INR
hairy willow herb Epilobium hirsutum R P, R3   B A
helleborine orchid Epipactis helleborine R   A
burning bush Euonymus alatus R7, 9   A M A
wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei Pt8   A H A A C
Cypress spurge Euphorbia cyparissias R   B A
leafy spurge Euphorbia esula Pt8 Pr N C P N,R   A H A A A A A
tall fescue Festuca elatior / Schenodorus arundinacea / Festuca arundinacea   A M A A
meadow fescue Festuca pratensis   A
Queen of the meadow Filipendula ulmaria R  
glossy buckthorn Frangula alnus / Rhamnus frangula E Pt8 R R R7   A H A A A A
goatsrue Galega officinalis   M
hemp nettle Galeopsis tetrahit R   A
White bedstraw Galium mollugo R  
yellow bedstraw Galium verum   C
Creeping Charlie, ground ivy Glechoma hederacea   M A C
Mudmat Glossostigma cleistanthum P  
tall or reed mannagrass Glyceria maxima P, R3   A
baby’s breath Gypsophila paniculata   B C
garden baby's-breath Gypsophila scorzonerifolia   A
English ivy Hedera helix 5   M C
wild sunflower Helianthus annus5 S  
orange day-lily, tawny day-lily Hemerocallis fulva   C B C
giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum E P, N E P, R P   A M A C B
dame's rocket Hesperis matronalis Pt8 R R   H A A A A
orange hawkweed Hieracium aurantiacum   A INR
yellow hawkweed Hieracium caespitosum   A
Japanese hops Humulus japonicus Pt E P, R3   A H C B A
hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata Aq PAq P PAq R P   A H W A, Aq
European frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Aq PAq P PAq R P   H C,W
Floating marsh pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides P  
Indian swampweed, miramar weed Hygrophilia polysperma Aq PAq PAq P   H
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum   L A INR
Balfour’s touch-me-not Impatiens balfourii R  
Indian balsam Impatiens glandulifera P   C,W
British yellowhead Inula britannica   B
Chinese water spinach Ipomoea aquatica Aq PAq RAq P   H
morning glory Ipomoea spp. N   A
Blackberry Lily Iris domestica   C
yellow iris Iris pseudacorus Aq PAq RAq R   H C A, Aq A
Field scabiosa Knautia arvensis R  
golden rain tree Koelreuteria paniculata   A
Korean clover Kummerowia stipulacea   M
Japanese clover Kummerowia striata   M
oxygen−weed, African elodea or African waterweed Lagarosiphon major Aq PAq P PAq P  
dotted duckweed Landoltia punctata   Aq C
motherwort Leonurus cardiaca   A
hairy whitetop Lepidium appelianum P  
pepperweed Lepidium latifolium Pt8 P   H
bicolor lespedeza Lespedeza bicolor   A M
sericea lespedeza Lespedeza cuneata Pt8 P   A H A B A
oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare / Chrysanthemum leucanthemum   A
lyme grass or sand ryegrass Leymus arenarius / Elymus arenarius P, R3  
lyme grass or sand ryegrass Leymus arenarius / Elymus arenarius P, R3   C
Amur privet Ligustrum amurense   C
Japanese privet Ligustrum japonica   A
blunt leaved privet, border privet Ligustrum obtusifolium Pt8   H A B
California privet Ligustrum ovalifolium   C
Chinese privet Ligustrum sinense   A C A
common privet Ligustrum vulgare   C A B B C
American frogbit/Sponge plant Limnobium spongia5   C
Asian marshweed Limnophila sessiliflora Aq PAq P   H
Dalmation toadflax Linaria dalmatica E P, R3   B
butter and eggs, common toadflax Linaria vulgaris   A INR
fragrant honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima E   A
Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica E Pt8 R P   H A A A
Amur honeysuckle Lonicera maackii E Pt8 R R P, R3   A H A A A A A
Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii E Pr8 R R R   A H A A A A A A
Manchurian honeysuckle Lonicera ruprechtiana   A
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens   A
Standish’s honeysuckle Lonicera standishii   A
Tatarian honeysuckle, Amur honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica E Pt8 R R R   A H A A A A A
Bell's honeysuckle, Amur honeysuckle Lonicera x bella Pt8 R R   H A C A A
goldflame hoenysuckle Lonicera x heckrottii   A
honeysuckle Lonicera x minutiflora   A
honeysuckle Lonicera x notha   A
fly honeysuckle Lonicera x xylosteoides   A
European fly honeysuckle, dwarf honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum   A A
bird's-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus   B A INR
big-leaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus5   C
moneywort Lysimachia nummularia R7   C A
golden loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris R   A
purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria E P Aq R PAq, C A P, R R   A H A A A, Aq A, Aq A A
purple loosestrife Lythrum spp. P  
purple loosestrife Lythrum virgatum P PAq, C R8 P  
osage-orange Maclura pomifera   A
European water-clover Marsilea quadrifolia   C,W C
white sweet clover Melilotus alba   M A A A A INR
yellow sweet clover Melilotus officinalis   M C A A A INR
spearmint Mentha spicata   A
peppermint Mentha x piperita   A
Japanese stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum Pt8 R P   A H C,W A A
Amur silver grass Miscanthus sacchariflorus   A
Chinese maiden grass, Chinese silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis   M A INR
miscanthus hybrid Miscanthus x gigantea   C
monochoria, arrowleaf, or false pickerelweed Monochoria hastata Aq PAq  
heartshape or false pickerelweed Monochoria vaginalis Aq PAq  
white mulberry Morus alba Pt8 R7, 9   H A A B A
forget me not Myosotis scorpioides R   A
Aquatic forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica R  
parrot feather Myriophyllum aquaticum Aq PAq P RAq R P   H W
variable-leaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum   A
Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum Aq PAq Aq R PAq R R   A H A Aq Aq A A
Spiny naiad Najas marina R  
brittle naiad Najas minor Aq PAq Aq PAq P   H C Aq Aq B
heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica   A
serrated tussock Nassella trichotoma N P  
watercress Nasturtium officinale / Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum   A C
Sacred lotus Nelumbo nucifera P  
Apple of Peru Nicandra physalodes P  
starry stonewort Nitellopsis obtusa P PAq P   B Aq
nonnative waterlilies Nymphaea spp. RAq   Aq
yellow floating hearts Nymphoides peltata Aq PAq P R P   H W
Java waterdropwort Oenanthe javanica P  
Scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium A  
Wavy leaf basket grass Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius P  
star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum   C
duck lettuce Ottelia alismoides Aq PAq P   H
butterweed, cressleaf groundsel Packera glabella / Senecio glabellus5 P  
wild parsnip Pastinaca sativa C7 P R   M A A A A A
princess tree Paulownia tomentosa P   A C B
Butterfly dock Petasites hybridus P  
reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea Pt8 P   A H A A A, Aq A A INR
variegated ribbon grass Phalaris arundinacea var. picta R7  
Amur cork tree Phellodendron amurense Pt8 P7   H C A
common reed Phragmites australis ssp australis R R R P, R3   A H A A, Aq A A A
yellow groove bamboo Phyllostachys aureasulcata P11  
Burnet saxifrage Pimpinella saxifrage R  
Austrian pine Pinus nigra   C
scotch pine Pinus sylvestris   B INR
water lettuce Pistia stratiotes P   C,W
buckthorn plantain Plantago lanceolata S  
Canada bluegrass Poa compressa   A
Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis   A
Oriental lady’s thumb Polygonum caespitosum   C
Japanese knotweed Polygonum cuspidatum/Fallopia japonica E Pt8 P SR P R   A H A A A A A A
mile−a−minute vine Polygonum perfoliatum/Persicaria perfoliata Pt8 P P   H W B
giant knotweed Polygonum sachalinense/Fallopia schalinensis/Reynoutria sachalinensis E Pt8 SR P   C A
Bohemian knotweed Polygonum x bohemicum/Fallopia x bohemica E Pt8 P   A
white poplar Populus alba R9   B A
Lombardy poplar Populus nigra var. italica   C
curly-leaved pondweed Potamogeton crispus Aq PAq Aq R PAq R R   A H A Aq A A
kudzu Pueraria montana var. lobata E, N Pe A P, R P   A H A C,W A A
callery pear Pyrus calleryana R10   A H A A INR
sawtooth oak Quercus acutissima P   C
lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria/Ficaria verna E R P   C C A
buckthorn Rhamnus arguta E  
common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica E R R R   A H A A A A A A
Dahurian buckthorn Rhamnus davurica E  
Japanese buckthorn Rhamnus japonica E  
buckthorn Rhamnus spp. (excluding Frangula alnus) Pr  
Chinese buckthorn Rhamnus utilis E  
Russian knapweed Rhaponticum repens P  
jetbead Rhodotypos scandens   C C
Bristly locust Robinia hispida5 R9   C
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia5 R R7, 9   A A A A
dog rose Rosa canina   B
multiflora rose Rosa multiflora E P S R A R R   A H A A A A A A
Himalayan blackberry Rubus armeniacus P  
wineberry, wine raspberry Rubus phoenicolasius P   C B
sheep sorrel, red sorrel Rumex acetosella S   A
smooth dock Rumex altissimus S  
sour dock Rumex crispus S  
ravennagrass Saccharum ravennae / Tripidium ravennae   B
arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia Aq PAq P  
Russian thistle Salsola kali var. tenuifolia P  
giant salvinia Salvinia auriculata, Salvinia biloba, Salvinia herzogii Aq PAq P P  
aquarium watermoss or giant salvinia Salvinia molesta Aq PAq P PAq P  
bouncing bet, soapwort Saponaria officinalis   M A A A
tall fescue Schenodorus arundinacea / Festuca arundinacea   M A
crownvetch Securigera varia / Coronilla varia Pt8 R R   A H A A A A A
coffeeweed Sesbania herbacea   A
giant foxtail Setaria faberia   A
foxtail millet Setaria italica   A
bristly foxtail Setaria verticillata   A
green foxtail Setaria viridis   A
bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus5 N  
bladder campion Silene vulgaris   A
horsenettle Solanum carolinense Pr N  
climbing nightshade, bittersweet nightshade Solanum dulcamara   A A
Seaside goldenrod Solidago sempervirens5 P, R3  
perennial sow thistle Sonchus arvensis N Pr N P   A
shatter cane Sorghum bicolor N S P  
Johnson grass Sorghum halepense N N N A P P   A H A
sorghum almum Sorghum x almum N N N P  
Exotic bur-reed Sparganium erectum Aq PAq  
Japanese meadowsweet Spiraea japonica   C
common chickweed Stellaria media   A
water aloes or water soldiers Stratiotes aloides Aq PAq P   W
medusahead Taeniatherum caput-medusae P  
salt cedar Tamarix spp. E Aq   A
common tansy Tanacetum vulgare C R7   A A A
Spreading hedgeparsley Torilis arvensis P   C
Japanese hedgeparsley or erect hedgeparsley Torilis japonica P, R3   C A B
poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans / Rhus toxicodendron5 SR  
poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix5 N  
western salsify Tragopogon dubius   A
water chestnut Trapa natans Aq PAq P PAq R P   H W
puncturevine Tribulus terrestris S N  
red clover Trifolium pratense   A
white clover Trifolium repens   A
Colt’s foot Tussilago farfara P  
narrow-leaved cattail Typha angustifolia5 PAq R R   A H A A A
southern cattail Typha domingensis5 P  
graceful cattail Typha laxmannii P  
hybrid cattail Typha x glauca R R   A C A A A
Chinese elm Ulmus parvifolia   A
Siberian elm Ulmus pumila R7, 9   M A A A A
Garden heliotrope Valeriana officinalis R  
common mullein Verbascum thapsus   B
European brooklime Veronica beccabunga var. beccabunga   B
European cranberry-bush Viburnum opulus var. opulus   C B INR
vetch Vicia cracca   M A
common vetch Vicia sativa   A
hairy vetch, cow vetch Vicia villosa   A A
large-leaved periwinkle Vinca major   C
periwinkle Vinca minor   M B C
grapevines Vitis sp. P11  
Japanese wisteria Wisteria floribunda P  
Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis P   C

1 Indiana list is based on assessments by the Indiana Invasive Species Council's Plant Advisory Committee
2 Wisconsin list from the Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin's (IPAW's) Working List of Invasive Plants
3 Prohibited or restricted by county. See text of state law for more detail.
4 Also designated as an invasive aquatic plant statewide under s. NR 109.07 (2).
5 Species is native to North America
6 Ohio list from the Ohio Invasive Plants Council's plant assessments
7 There are cultivar and/or hybrid exemptions to the rule or regulation
8 Prohibitions go into effect 04/18/2020
9 Prohibitions go into effect 05/01/2020
10 Prohibitions go into effect 01/07/2023
11 Only regulated under certain growing conditions (see regulation for details)