Non-Native Invasive Terrestrial Plant Species in the State of Maryland

The species listed below are known to cause environmental or economical harm in Maryland or the region and are therefore a significant concern to the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC), a group representing broad environmental and economic interests across the state of Maryland.

The table below is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all invasive species in Maryland, but includes species of concern to the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC). This list includes all updates approved as of the April 18, 2024 MISC meeting.

Scientific Name	Common Name	Habit	Habitat	Regulated in Mid-Atlantic/US
Acer palmatum	Japanese maple	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Acer platanoides	Norway maple	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Acer pseudoplatanus	Sycamore maple	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Acer tataricum ssp. ginnala	Amur maple	Tree	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Achyranthes japonica	Japanese chaff flower	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Actinidia arguta	Tara vine	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Aegopodium podagraria	Goutweed	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Agrostemma githago	Corn cockle	Forb	Terrestrial	DE, MD, PA, NJ, WV
Agrostis canina	Velvet bentgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Agrostis capillaris (except turf)	Colonial bentgrass (except turf)	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland/Terrestrial	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Agrostis gigantea (except turf)	Redtop (except turf)	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Agrostis stolonifera (except turf varieties)	Creeping bentgrass (except turf varieties)	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA
Ailanthus altissima	Tree-of-heaven	Tree	Terrestrial/Wetland	WV
Ajuga reptans	Carpet bugle	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Akebia quinata	Chocolate vine	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Albizia julibrissin	Mimosa	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Alliaria petiolata	Garlic mustard	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Allium vineale	Wild garlic	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Amaranthus palmeri	Palmer amaranth	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, PA
Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata	Porcelain-berry	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Anoda cristata	Spurred anoda	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	MD, NJ
Aralia elata	Japanese angelica tree	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Arctium minus	Common burdock	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Arrhenatherum elatius	Tall oatgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Artemisia vulgaris	Mugwort	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Arthraxon hispidus	Small carpetgrass, joint-head grass	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Arum italicum	Italian arum	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Arundo donax	Giant reed	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Athyrium niponicum	Japanese painted fern	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Bambusa vulgaris	Common bamboo	Graminoid, Bamboo (Woody Grass)	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Berberis julianae	Wintergreen barberry	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Berberis repens	Creeping barberry	Subshrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Berberis thunbergii	Japanese barberry	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	WV (2020)
Berberis vulgaris	Common barberry	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Bromus arvensis	Field brome	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Bromus inermis	Smooth brome	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	DE
Bromus sterilis	Poverty brome	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	N/A
Bromus tectorum	Cheatgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	DE, NJ
Broussonetia papyrifera	Paper-mulberry	Tree	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Buddleja davidii	Butterflybush	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Calamagrostis epigeios	Feathertop	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	N/A
Callicarpa dichotoma	Purple beautyberry	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Cardamine impatiens	Narrowleaf bittercress	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Cardiospermum halicacabum	Balloonvine	Vine	Wetland/Terrestrial	MD, VA
Carduus acanthoides	Spiny plumeless thistle	Forb	Terrestrial	MD, VA, WV
Carduus crispus	Curly plumeless thistle	Forb	Terrestrial	MD, VA, WV
Carduus nutans	Musk thistle	Forb	Terrestrial	MD, PA, VA, WV
Carex kobomugi	Japanese sedge	Graminoid, Sedge	Terrestrial	N/A
Cayratia japonica	Bushkiller	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Celastrus orbiculatus	Oriental bittersweet	Vine	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Cenchrus purpurascens	Chinese fountaingrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	N/A
Cenchrus setaceus	Crimson fountaingrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	N/A
Centaurea jacea	Brown knapweed	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Centaurea nigrescens	Alpine knapweed	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis	Spotted knapweed	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Chelidonium majus	Greater celandine	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Cirsium arvense	Canada thistle	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Cirsium vulgare	Bull thistle	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	PA
Clematis terniflora	Sweet autumn virginsbower	Vine	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Commelina communis	Asiatic dayflower	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Conium maculatum	Poison hemlock	Forb	Wetland	PA, WV
Convallaria majalis	Lily of the valley	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Convolvulus arvensis	Field bindweed	Vine	Terrestrial	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Corydalis incisa	Incised fumewort	Forb	Terrestrial	MD
Cuscuta japonica	Japanese dodder	Forb, parasitic	Terrestrial	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV, USDA
Cynodon dactylon var. aridus	Giant Bermuda grass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon (except turf varieties)	Bermuda grass (except turf varieties)	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Cynodon dactylon	Bermuda grass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Cyperus brevifolioides	False green kyllinga	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Cyperus iria	Rice flatsedge	Graminoid, Sedge	Wetland	N/A
Cyperus rotundus	Purple nutsedge	Graminoid, Sedge	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Cyperus spp. (exotics only)	Flatsedge (exotics)	Graminoid, Sedge	Wetland/Terrestrial	MD
Cyrtomium falcatum	Japanese netvein hollyfern	Fern	Terrestrial	N/A
Cytisus scoparius	Scotch broom	Shrub	Terrestrial	MD
Dactylis glomerata	Orchardgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Datura stramonium	Jimsonweed	Forb	Terrestrial	PA
Deutzia scabra	Fuzzy pride-of-Rochester	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Digitaria sanguinalis	Large crabgrass	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Digitaria spp. (exotics only)	Crabgrass (exotics)	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	MD
Dioscorea polystachya	Chinese yam	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Dipsacus fullonum	Common teasel	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Dipsacus laciniatus	Cutleaf teasel	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Echinochloa crus-galli	Barnyard grass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	N/A
Elaeagnus angustifolia	Russian olive	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Elaeagnus pungens	Thorny olive	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Elaeagnus umbellata	Autumn olive	Shrub	Terrestrial	WV
Eleusine indica	Goosegrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	MD
Eleutherococcus sieboldianus	Five-leaf aralia	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Elymus repens ssp. repens	Quackgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Epipactis helleborine	Broad-leaf helleborine	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Eragrostis curvula	Weeping lovegrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	N/A
Euonymus alatus	Winged burning bush	Shrub	Terrestrial	MD
Euonymus europaeus	European spindletree	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Euonymus fortunei	Winter creeper	Vine	Terrestrial	MD
Fatoua villosa	Mulberryweed	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Festuca arundinacea (except turf varieties)	Tall fescue (except turf varieties)	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland/Terrestrial	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Festuca pratensis	Meadow fescue	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Ficaria verna	Lesser celandine, fig buttercup	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	MD
Frangula alnus	Glossy buckthorn	Shrub/Tree	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Galega officinalis	Goatsrue	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	PA, USDA
Geranium lucidum	Shining geranium	Forb	Terrestrial	MD
Glechoma hederacea	Ground ivy	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Hedera helix	English ivy	Vine	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Hedera hibernica	Atlantic ivy	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Hemerocallis fulva	Tawny daylily	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Heracleum mantegazzianum	Giant hogweed	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	PA, VA, USDA
Hesperis matronalis	Dames rocket	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Hibiscus syriacus	Rose of Sharon	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Holcus lanatus	Common velvetgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland/Terrestrial	MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Houttuynia cordata	Chameleon-plant	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Humulus japonicus	Japanese hop	Vine	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Hyacinthoides hispanica	Hispanic hyacinthoides	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Hypericum perforatum	Common St. Johnswort	Shrub	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Ilex crenata	Japanese holly	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Impatiens glandulifera	Himalayan balsam	Forb	Wetland	N/A
Imperata cylindrica	Cogongrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	VA, USDA
Kalopanax septemlobus	Castor aralia	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Koelreuteria paniculata	Goldenrain tree	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Lamium galeobdolon	Yellow archangel	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Lepidium latifolium	Perennial pepperweed	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Lespedeza bicolor	Shrubby lespedeza	Forb	Terrestrial	DE
Lespedeza cuneata	Sericea lespedeza	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE
Lespedeza thunbergii	Thunberg lespedeza	Shrub	Terrestrial	DE
Leucanthemum vulgare	Oxeye daisy	Forb	Terrestrial	WV
Leucojum aestivum	Summer snowflake	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Ligustrum japonicum	Japanese privet	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Ligustrum lucidum	Glossy privet	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Ligustrum obtusifolium ssp. suave	Amur privet	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Ligustrum obtusifolium	Border privet	Shrub	Terrestrial	MD
Ligustrum ovalifolium	California privet	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Ligustrum quihoui	Waxyleaf privet	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Ligustrum sinense	Chinese privet	Shrub	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Ligustrum vulgare	European privet	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Liriope spicata	Creeping liriope	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Lonicera caprifolium	Italian woodbine	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Lonicera fragrantissima	Sweet breath of spring	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Lonicera japonica	Japanese honeysuckle	Vine	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Lonicera maackii	Amur honeysuckle	Shrub	Terrestrial	MD
Lonicera morrowii	Morrow's honeysuckle	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	WV
Lonicera standishii	Standish's honeysuckle	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Lonicera tatarica	Tatarian honeysuckle	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	WV
Lonicera x bella	Showy fly honeysuckle, bell's honeysuckle	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Lonicera xylosteum	Dwarf honeysuckle	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Lysimachia nummularia	Creeping yellow loosestrife, creeping Jenny	Forb	Wetland	N/A
Lythrum virgatum	European wand loosestrife	Forb	Wetland	PA
Mahonia bealei	Leatherleaf mahonia	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Melia azedarach	Chinaberry	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Microstegium vimineum	Japanese stiltgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland/Terrestrial	WV
Miscanthus sacchariflorus	Amur silvergrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Miscanthus sinensis	Chinese silvergrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Morus alba	White mulberry	Tree	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Morus australis	Common mulberry	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Myosoton aquaticum	Giant chickweed	Forb	Wetland	N/A
Nandina domestica	Sacred bamboo	Shrub	Terrestrial	MD
Nassella trichotoma	Serrated tussock	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	MD, VA, WV, USDA
Oplismenus undulatifolius	Wavyleaf basketgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	PA, VA
Ornithogalum nutans	Nodding star-of-Bethlehem	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Ornithogalum umbellatum	Star-of-Bethlehem	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Osmanthus heterophyllus	Holly osmanthus	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Pachysandra terminalis	Japanese pachysandra	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Pastinaca sativa	Wild parsnip	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Paulownia tomentosa	Princesstree	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Pentanema britannicum	British yellowhead	Forb	Terrestrial	USDA
Perilla frutescens	Perilla mint	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Persicaria filiformis	Asian jumpseed	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Persicaria longiseta	Oriental lady's thumb	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Persicaria perfoliata	Mile-a-minute vine	Vine	Wetland/Terrestrial	PA, WV
Phellodendron amurense	Amur corktree	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Phleum pratense	Timothy	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Phragmites australis ssp. australis	European common reed	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland	DE, MD
Phyllostachys aurea	Golden bamboo	Graminoid, Bamboo (Woody Grass)	Terrestrial	MD
Phyllostachys aureosulcata	Yellow groove bamboo	Graminoid, Bamboo (Woody Grass)	Terrestrial	MD
Phyllostachys bambusoides	Japanese timber bamboo	Graminoid, Bamboo (Woody Grass)	Terrestrial	N/A
Phyllostachys bissetii	Bisset bamboo	Graminoid, Bamboo (woody grass)	Terrestrial	N/A
Phyllostachys nigra	Black bamboo	Graminoid, Bamboo (Woody Grass)	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Poa annua	Annual bluegrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Poa compressa	Canada bluegrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE
Poa trivialis (except turf)	Roughstalk bluegrass (except turf)	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Poncirus trifoliata	Trifoliate orange	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Populus alba	White poplar	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Potentilla indica	Mock strawberry	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Prunus avium	Sweet cherry	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Prunus cerasus	Sour cherry	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Prunus mahaleb	Mahaleb cherry	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Prunus tomentosa	Nanking cherry	Shrub/Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Prunus x subhirtella	Winter-flowering cherry	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Pseudosasa japonica	Arrow bamboo	Graminoid, Bamboo (Woody Grass)	Terrestrial	N/A
Pueraria montana var. lobata	Kudzu	Vine	Terrestrial/Wetland	PA, WV
Pyrus betulifolia	Birch-leaf pear	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Pyrus calleryana	Callery pear (Bradford pear)	Tree	Terrestrial	MD
Quercus acutissima	Sawtooth oak	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Reynoutria japonica	Japanese knotweed	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	WV
Reynoutria sachalinensis	Giant knotweed	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Reynoutria x bohemica	Bohemian knotweed	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Rhamnus cathartica	European buckthorn	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Rhamnus davurica	Dahurian buckthorn	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Rhodotypos scandens	Jetbead	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Rosa multiflora	Multiflora rose	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	MD, PA, WV
Rosa rugosa	Seaside rose	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Rottboellia cochinchinensis	Itchgrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	USDA
Rubus armeniacus	Himalayan blackberry	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Rubus bifrons	Himalayan blackberry	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Rubus phoenicolasius	Wine raspberry	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Salix alba	White willow	Tree	Wetland	N/A
Salix babylonica	Weeping willow	Tree	Wetland	N/A
Salix purpurea	Purple osier willow	Tree	Wetland	N/A
Salix x sepulcralis	Weeping willow	Tree	Wetland	N/A
Securigera varia	Purple crown-vetch	Forb	Terrestrial	N/A
Senna obtusifolia	Sicklepod	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	MD
Setaria faberi	Giant foxtail	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	DE, MD, VA
Setaria italica	Foxtail millet	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD
Setaria pumila	Yellow foxtail	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland/Terrestrial	MD, USDA
Setaria spp. (exotics only)	Bristlegrass (exotics)	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	MD
Setaria verticillata	Bristly foxtail	Graminoid, Grass	Wetland/Terrestrial	MD
Setaria viridis	Green foxtail	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial	MD
Sorghum bicolor nothosubsp. drummondii	Sudan sorghum	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, VA, WV
Sorghum bicolor	Sorghum (type unspecified)	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, PA, VA
Sorghum halepense	Johnsongrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
Sorghum x almum	Almum sorghum	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE, MD, NJ, VA, WV
Spiraea japonica	Japanese spiraea	Shrub	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Stellaria media	Common chickweed	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Styphnolobium japonicum	Japanese pagoda tree	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A
Tetradium daniellii	Bee-bee tree	Tree	Terrestrial	MD
Tripidium ravennae	Ravennagrass	Graminoid, Grass	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Ulmus pumila	Siberian elm	Tree	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Urtica dioica ssp. dioica	European stinging nettle	Forb	Wetland/Terrestrial	N/A
Verbascum thapsus	Common mullein	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	N/A
Viburnum dilatatum	Linden viburnum	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Viburnum lantana	Wayfaringtree	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Viburnum opulus	European cranberrybush	Shrub	Wetland	N/A
Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum	Double-file viburnum	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Viburnum plicatum	Japanese snowball	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Viburnum setigerum	Tea viburnum	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Viburnum sieboldii	Siebold's arrowwood	Shrub	Terrestrial	N/A
Vicia cracca ssp. cracca	Bird vetch	Forb	Terrestrial	DE
Vicia grandiflora	Large yellow vetch	Forb	Terrestrial	DE
Vicia hirsuta	Tiny vetch	Forb	Terrestrial	DE
Vicia sativa	Common vetch	Forb	Terrestrial/Wetland	DE
Vicia sepium	Bush vetch	Forb	Terrestrial	DE
Vicia tetrasperma	Sparrow vetch	Forb	Terrestrial	DE
Vicia villosa	Hairy vetch	Forb	Terrestrial	DE
Vinca major	Big periwinkle	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Vinca minor	Common periwinkle	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Vincetoxicum nigrum	Black dog-strangling vine, black swallowwort	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Vincetoxicum rossicum	Dog-strangling vine, European swallowwort	Vine	Terrestrial	N/A
Vitex rotundifolia	Beach vitex	Shrub	Terrestrial	VA
Wisteria floribunda	Japanese wisteria	Vine	Terrestrial	MD
Wisteria sinensis	Chinese wisteria	Vine	Terrestrial	MD
Wisteria x formosa	Hybrid wisteria	Vine	Terrestrial	MD
Zelkova serrata	Japanese zelkova	Tree	Terrestrial	N/A