List of invasive plant species in Pennsylvania

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Numerous plants have been introduced to the US state of Pennsylvania in the last four hundred years and many of them have become invasive species that compete with the native plants and suppress their growth.

Contents

Description

Invasive species are often grouped by threat levels that vary from county to county from very high impact to remarkable increased growth. The species below are by no means comprehensive and are listed in type order rather than level of threat [1] [2] [3]

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ranks invasive species into 3 categories based on urgency of threat. [4]

Terrestrial Plants and Trees

PictureScientific NameCommon Name
Spitz-Ahorn(mbo).jpg
Acer platanoides Norway maple
Ailanthus-altissima.jpg
Ailanthus altissima tree of heaven
Alliaria petiolata marais-belloy-sur-somme 80 26042007 3.jpg
Alliaria petiolata garlic mustard
Aralia elata en fleur4081.jpg
Aralia elata Japanese Angelica tree
Berberis thunb frt.jpg
Berberis thunbergii Japanese barberry
2014-11-11 14 33 05 Euonymus alatus foliage during autumn along Idaho Street in Elko, Nevada.jpg
Euonymus alatus Winged Spindle
Honeysuckle-2.jpg
Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle
Phragmites australis Schilfrohr.jpg
Phragmites
Reynoutria japonica in Brastad 1.jpg
Reynoutria japonica Japanese knotweed
Illustration of Rhamnus catharticus 63-cropped.png
Rhamnus cathartica Buckthorn
Rhodotypos-scandens.JPG
Rhodotypos scandens Jetbead
Rosa-multiflora2.jpg
Rosa multiflora Multiflora Rose
Japanse wijnbes rijpe vruchten.jpg
Rubus phoenicolasius Japanese wineberry
Saccharum ravennae - J. C. Raulston Arboretum - DSC06214.JPG
Saccharum ravennae Ravenngrass
Frangula-alnus-fruits.JPG
Frangula alnus Alder Buckthorn
Galegaofficinalis03.jpg
Galega officinalis goat's-rue
Herkulesstaude fg01.jpg
Heracleum mantegazzianum Giant Hogweed
Phellodendron japonicum.jpg
Phellodendron Cork-Tree
KudzuPlants.JPG
Pueraria Kudzu
Vencetosigo negro - Vincetoxicum nigrum (15060096286).jpg
Vincetoxicum nigrum Black Swallowwort
Vincetoxicum rossicum1UME.JPG
Vincetoxicum rossicum Pale Swallowwort
Morus alba - Tehran.JPG
Morus alba White Mulberry

See also

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Brickellia mosieri, the Florida brickell-bush, is a North American herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae. It grows in Pine Rocklands in Florida, preferring low-nutrient sand close to sea level. It is characterized by small, round, rod-shaped flowers that are either brown or white. Since 1999, the total population of the Florida brickell-bush has declined by 50% due to a number of threats. Currently, it is listed as “endangered wherever found” under the ESA

References

  1. "Invasive Plant Sheets". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  2. "Invasive Species". Landscope America. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  3. "Invasive and Unwelcome Species". Western Pennsylvania Conservancy . Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  4. Marcus Schenck. "Invasive Plants are Swallowing Pennsylvania". PennLive, The Patriot-News . Retrieved October 15, 2019.