Plants voted as: INVASIVE
"Invasive" plants are non-native species that have spread into native or minimally managed plant systems in Massachusetts. These plants cause economic or environmental harm by developing self-sustaining populations and becoming dominant and/or disruptive to those systems. As defined here, "species" includes all synonyms, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars of that species unless proven otherwise by a process of scientific evaluation.
Acer platanoides
L. (Norway maple)
A
tree occurring in all regions of the state
in upland and wetland habitats, and especially
common in woodlands with colluvial soils. It grows in full sun to full shade. Escapes from cultivation; can form dense stands; out-competes native
vegetation, including sugar maple; dispersed
by water, wind and vehicles.
Acer pseudoplatanus
L. (Sycamore
maple)
A
tree occurring mostly in southeastern counties
of Massachusetts, primarily in woodlands
and especially near the coast. It grows in full sun to partial shade. Escapes from cultivation inland as
well as along the coast; salt-spray tolerant;
dispersed by wind, water and vehicles.
Aegopodium podagraria L.
(Bishop’s goutweed; bishop’s weed; goutweed)
A
perennial herb occurring in
all regions of the state in
uplands and wetlands. Grows in full sun to full shade. Escapes from cultivation;
spreads aggressively by roots; forms dense
colonies in flood plains.
Ailanthus altissima (P. Miller) Swingle (Tree-of-heaven)
This tree occurs in all regions of the state in upland, wetland, & coastal habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade. Spreads aggressively from root suckers, especially in disturbed areas.
Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (Garlic mustard)
Synonym: Alliaria officinalis Andrz.
Ex Bieb.
A biennial herb occuring in all regions of the state in uplands. Grows in full sun to full shade. Spreads aggressively by seed, especially in wooded areas.
Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner (Black alder, European alder)
A rapidly growing tree, native to Europe and portions of northern Africa and Asia, that has been widely planted for ornamental purposes and for erosion control. Black alder is primarily a riparian species that forms large stands and readily disperses via waterways, wildlife and wind. It may hybridize with other alder species.
Berberis thunbergii DC. (Japanese barberry)
A shrub occuring in all regions of the state in open and wooded uplands and wetlands. Grows in full sun to full shade. Escaping from cultivation; spread by birds; forms dense stands.
Cabomba
caroliniana A.Gray
(Carolina fanwort; fanwort)
A
perennial herb occuring in
all regions of the state in aquatic habitats. Common
in the aquarium trade; chokes waterways.
Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.
(Oriental bittersweet; Asian or Asiatic bittersweet)
A
perennial vine occuring in
all regions of the state in uplands. Grows
in full sun to partial shade. Escaping from cultivation; berries spread by birds and humans;
overwhelms and kills vegetation.
Cynanchum
louiseae Kartesz
& Gandhi (Black swallow-wort, Louise’s
swallow-wort)
Synonyms: Cynanchum nigrum (L.) Pers. non Cav.; Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench
A
perennial vine occurring in
all regions of the state in upland, wetland, and coastal habitats. Grows in
full sun to partial shade. Forms dense stands,
out-competing native species: deadly to
Monarch butterflies.
Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.
(Autumn olive)
A
shrub occurring in uplands in
all regions of the state. Grows in full sun. Escaping from cultivation; berries
spread by birds; aggressive in open areas;
has the ability to change soil.
Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees (Weeping lovegrass)
A perennial warm season bunchgrass that occurs on road edges, agricultural grasslands, sandplain grassland, and coastal heathland areas, mainly in coastal and island counties. In globally rare early successional habitats, this grass has demonstrated the ability to expand rapidly. (Reviewed 2021)
Euonymus alatus
(Thunb.) Sieb. (Winged euonymus; Burning bush)
A
shrub occurring in all regions of the state
and capable of germinating prolifically
in many different habitats. It grows in
full sun to full shade. Escaping from cultivation and can form dense
thickets and dominate the understory; seeds
are dispersed by birds.
Euphorbia
esula L. (Leafy spurge; wolf’s milk)
A
perennial herb occurring in all regions
of the state in grasslands and coastal habitats. Grows in full sun. An aggressive herbaceous perennial and a notable
problem in western USA.
Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Dcne. (Japanese knotweed; Japanese or Mexican Bamboo)
Synonym: Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc.; Reynoutria japonica Houtt.
A perennial herbaceous subshrub or shrub occurring in all regions of the state in upland, wetland, and coastal habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade, but hardier in full sun. Spreads vegetatively and by seed; forms dense thickets.
Ficaria verna Huds. (Lesser celandine; fig buttercup)
Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria L.
A perennial herb occurring on stream banks, and in lowland and uplands woods in all regions of the state. Grows in full sun to full shade. Propagates vegetatively and by seed; forms dense stands especially in riparian woodlands; an ephemeral that outcompetes native spring wildflowers.
Frangula
alnus P. Mill. (European
buckthorn; glossy buckthorn)
Synonyms: Rhamnus frangula L.;
R. frangula var. angustifolia Loud.
Shrub
or tree occurring in
all regions of the state in upland, wetland,
and coastal habitats. Grows in full sun to full
shade. Produces fruit throughout the growing season; grows in multiple
habitats; forms thickets.
Glaucium
flavum Crantz
(Sea or horned poppy; yellow hornpoppy)
A
biennial and perennial herb occurring in
southeastern MA in coastal habitats. Grows in full sun. Seeds float; spreads along rocky beaches; primarily Cape Cod and
Islands.
Hesperis
matronalis L.
(Dame’s rocket)
A
biennial and perennial herb occurring in
all regions of the state
in upland and wetland habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade. Spreads by seed;
can form dense stands, particularly in flood
plains.
Iris
pseudacorus L.
(Yellow iris)
A
perennial herb occurring in
all regions of the state
in wetland habitats, primarily in flood
plains. Grows in full sun to partial
shade. Out-competes
native plant communities.
Lepidium
latifolium L.
(Broad-leaved pepperweed; tall pepperweed)
A
perennial herb occurring in eastern and
southeastern regions of the state in coastal
habitats. Grows in full sun. Primarily
coastal at upper edge of wetlands; also
found in disturbed areas; salt tolerant.
Lonicera
japonica Thunb. (Japanese honeysuckle)
A
perennial vine occurring in
all regions of the state
in upland, wetland, and coastal habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade. Rapidly growing,
dense stands climb and overwhelm native
vegetation; produces many seeds that are
bird dispersed; more common in southeastern
Massachusetts.
Lonicera
morrowii A.Gray (Morrow’s honeysuckle)A shrub occurring
in
all regions of the state in upland, wetland, and coastal habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade. Part of a confusing
hybrid complex of nonnative honeysuckles
commonly planted and escaping from cultivation
via bird dispersal.
Lonicera
x bella Zabel
[morrowii x tatarica] (Bell’s
honeysuckle)
This
shrub occurs in
all regions of the state in upland, wetland, and coastal habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade. Part of a confusing
hybrid complex of nonnative honeysuckles
commonly planted and escaping from cultivation
via bird dispersal.
Lysimachia
nummularia L.
(Creeping jenny; moneywort)
A
perennial herb occurring in
all regions of the state in
upland and wetland habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade. Escaping from cultivation;
problematic in flood plains, forests and
wetlands; forms dense mats.
Lythrum
salicaria L.
(Purple loosestrife)
A
perennial herb or subshrub occurring in
all regions of the state
in upland and wetland habitats. Grows in full sun to partial shade. Escaping
from cultivation; overtakes wetlands; high
seed production and longevity.
Myriophyllum
heterophyllum Michx.
(Variable water-milfoil; Two-leaved water-milfoil)
A
perennial herb occurring in
all regions of the state
in aquatic habitats. Chokes waterways, spread by humans and possibly birds.
Myriophyllum
spicatum L.
(Eurasian or European water-milfoil; spike water-milfoil)
A
perennial herb found in
all regions of the state in aquatic habitats. Chokes
waterways, spread by humans and possibly
birds.
Phalaris arundinacea
L. (Reed
canary-grass)
This
perennial grass occurs in all regions of
the state in wetlands and open uplands. Grows in full sun to partial shade. Can form huge colonies and overwhelm
wetlands; flourishes in disturbed areas;
native and introduced strains; common in
agricultural settings and in forage crops.
Phragmites
australis (Cav.)
Trin. ex Steud. subsp. australis
(Common reed)
A
perennial grass (USDA lists as subshrub,
shrub) found in
all regions of the state. Grows in upland and wetland habitats in full sun to full shade. Overwhelms wetlands forming huge, dense stands; flourishes in disturbed areas; native and introduced strains.
Polygonum perfoliatum L. (Mile-a-minute vine or weed; Asiatic tearthumb)
Synonyms:
Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross; Ampelygonum perfoliatum (L.) Roberty & Vautier
This annual herbaceous vine is currently known to exist in several counties in MA, and has also has been found in RI and CT. Habitats include streamside, fields, and road edges in full sun to partial shade. Highly aggressive; bird and human dispersed.
Potamogeton
crispus L.
(Crisped pondweed; curly pondweed)
A
perennial herb occurring in
all regions of the state
in aquatic habitats. Forms dense mats in
the spring and persists vegetatively.
Rhamnus
cathartica L.
(Common buckthorn)
A
shrub or tree occurring in
all regions of the state in upland and wetland habitats. Grows in full sun to full
shade. Produces
fruit in fall; grows in multiple habitats;
forms dense thickets.
Robinia
pseudoacacia L. (Black locust)
A
tree that occurs in
all regions of the state in upland habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade. While the species is native to central portions of Eastern North America, it is not indigenous to Massachusetts. It has been planted throughout the state since the 1700’s and is now widely naturalized. It behaves as an invasive species in areas with sandy soils.
Rosa multiflora Thunb.
(Multiflora rose)
A perennial vine or shrub occurring in all regions of the state in upland, wetland and coastal habitats. Grows in full sun to full shade. Forms impenetrable thorny thickets that can overwhelm other vegetation; bird dispersed.
Salix atrocinerea/Salix cinerea L.
(Large Gray Willow/Rusty Willow)
A large shrub or small tree most commonly found in the eastern and southeastern areas of the state, with new occurrences being reported further west. Primarily found on pond shores but is also known from other wetland types and rarely uplands. Salix atrocinerea L. / Salix cinerea L. are either recognized as closely related species or the conspecific subspecies Salix cinerea ssp. oleifolia and S. cinerea ssp. cinerea. Forms dense stands and can out-compete native species along the shores of coastal plain ponds. (Reviewed 2014)
Trapa
natans L.
(Water-chestnut)
An annual herb occurring in the western, central, and eastern regions of the state in aquatic habitats. Forms dense floating mats on water.