Invasive and Exotic Shrubs

The following species have been listed on an invasive species list or noxious weed law in North America. For more information on each species, including the listing sources, images, and publication links, click on the species.

Subject Name	Scientific Name	Family	Order
tropical soda apple	Solanum viarum Dunal	Solanaceae	Solanales
coral ardisia	Ardisia crenata Sims	Myrsinaceae	Primulales
Japanese barberry	Berberis thunbergii DC.	Berberidaceae	Ranunculales
autumn-olive	Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.	Elaeagnaceae	Rhamnales
Russian-olive	Elaeagnus angustifolia L.	Elaeagnaceae	Rhamnales
winged burning bush	Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb.	Celastraceae	Celastrales
largeleaf lantana	Lantana camara L.	Verbenaceae	Lamiales
shrubby lespedeza	Lespedeza bicolor Turcz.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
sericea lespedeza	Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Japanese privet	Ligustrum japonicum Thunb.	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
Chinese privet	Ligustrum sinense Lour.	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
European privet	Ligustrum vulgare L.	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
sweet breath of spring	Lonicera fragrantissima Lindl. & Paxton	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
Amur honeysuckle	Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
Morrow's honeysuckle	Lonicera morrowii Gray	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
exotic bush honeysuckles	Lonicera spp. L.	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
Tatarian honeysuckle	Lonicera tatarica L.	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
Uruguay waterprimrose	Ludwigia uruguayensis Camb.) Hara	Onagraceae	Myrtales
sacred bamboo	Nandina domestica Thunb.	Berberidaceae	Ranunculales
Japanese pachysandra	Pachysandra terminalis Sieb. & Zucc.	Buxaceae	Euphorbiales
arrow bamboo	Pseudosasa japonica (Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai	Poaceae	Cyperales
multiflora rose	Rosa multiflora Thunb. ex Murr.	Rosaceae	Rosales
wine raspberry	Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim.	Rosaceae	Rosales
Japanese spiraea	Spiraea japonica L. f.	Rosaceae	Rosales
tamarisk	Tamarix spp. L.	Tamaricaceae	Violales
gorse	Ulex europaeus L.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Scotch broom	Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
thorny olive	Elaeagnus pungens Thunb.	Elaeagnaceae	Rhamnales
African boxthorn	Lycium ferocessimum Miers	Solanaceae	Solanales
catclaw mimosa	Mimosa pellita Kunth ex Willd.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Banks melastoma	Melastoma malabathricum L.	Melastomataceae	Myrtales
European blackberry	Rubus fruticosus L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
Molucca raspberry	Rubus moluccanus L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
Macartney rose	Rosa bracteata J.C. Wendl.	Rosaceae	Rosales
giant sensitiveplant	Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauvalle	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
mastuerzo	Prosopis reptans reptans Bentham	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Argentine screwbean	Prosopis strombulifera (Lamarck) Bentham	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
earleaf acacia	Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunningham ex Benth.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
biddy-biddy	Acaena novae-zelandica Kirk	Rosaceae	Rosales
kangaroothorn	Acacia paradoxa DC.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
creeping croftonweed	Ageratina riparia (Regel) King & H.E. Robins.	Asteraceae	Asterales
camelthorn	Alhagi maurorum Medik	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
indigobush	Amorpha fruticosa L.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
giant ragweed	Ambrosia trifida L.	Asteraceae	Asterales
absinth wormwood	Artemisia absinthium L.	Asteraceae	Asterales
Sprenger's asparagus fern	Asparagus aethiopicus L.	Liliaceae	Liliales
Australian saltbush	Atriplex semibaccata R. Br.	Chenopodiaceae	Caryophyllales
mountain ebony	Bauhinia variegata L	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
European barberry	Berberis vulgaris L	Berberidaceae	Ranunculales
hottentot fig	Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E. Br	Aizoaceae	Caryophyllales
soapbush	Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don	Melastomataceae	Myrtales
milkflower cotoneaster	Cotoneaster coriaceus Franch.	Rosaceae	Rosales
silverleaf cotoneaster	Cotoneaster pannosus Franch.	Rosaceae	Rosales
narrow-leaved iceplant	Conicosia pugioniformis (L.) N.E. Br	Aizoaceae	Caryophyllales
striated broom	Cytisus striatus (Hill) Rothm	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Virginia buttonweed	Diodia virginiana L	Rubiaceae	Rubiales
Surinam cherry	Eugenia uniflora L.	Myrtaceae	Myrtales
governor's plum	Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr	Flacourtiaceae	Violales
Mauritius hemp	Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw	Agavaceae	Liliales
scarlet gaura	Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh	Onagraceae	Myrtales
French broom	Genista monspessulana (L.) L. Johnson	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
common salttree	Halimodendron halodendron (L. f.) Voss	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
strawflower	Helichrysum petiolare Hilliard & Burtt	Asteraceae	Asterales
pearlflower	Heterocentron subtriplinervium (Link & Otto) A. Braun & Bouché	Melastomataceae	Myrtales
sea hibiscus	Talipariti tiliaceum var. tiliaceum L.	Malvaceae	Malvales
hogpotato	Hoffmannseggia glauca (Ortega) Eifert	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Canary Island St. Johnswort	Hypericum canariense L.	Clusiaceae	Theales
gloria de la manana	Ipomoea carnea ssp. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D. Austin	Convolvulaceae	Solanales
poverty sumpweed	Iva axillaris Pursh	Asteraceae	Asterales
cathedral bells	Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers.	Crassulaceae	Rosales
glossy privet	Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
Bell's honeysuckle	Lonicera x bella Zabel [morrowii × tatarica]	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
white horehound	Marrubium vulgare L.	Lamiaceae	Lamiales
miconia	Miconia calvescens DC.	Melastomataceae	Myrtales
bristletips	Oxyspora paniculata (D. Don) DC.	Melastomataceae	Myrtales
New Zealand flax	Phormium tenax J.R. & G. Forst.	Xanthorrhoeaceae	Asparagales
cure for all	Pluchea carolinensis (Jacq.) G. Don	Asteraceae	Asterales
Indian camphorweed	Pluchea indica (L.) Less.	Asteraceae	Asterales
tornillo	Prosopis reptans var. cinerascens (A. Gray) Burkart	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
strawberry guava	Psidium cattleianum Sabine	Myrtaceae	Myrtales
guava	Psidium guajava L.	Myrtaceae	Myrtales
bridal broom	Retama monosperma (L.) Boiss.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Chinese buckthorn	Rhamnus utilis Dcne.	Rhamnaceae	Rhamnales
castorbean	Ricinus communis L.	Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbiales
highbush blackberry	Rubus argutus Link	Rosaceae	Rosales
Britton's wild petunia	Ruellia simplex C. Wright	Acanthaceae	Scrophulariales
Himalaya blackberry	Rubus armeniacus Focke	Rosaceae	Rosales
snowpeaks raspberry	Rubus niveus Thunb.	Rosaceae	Rosales
West Indian raspberry	Rubus rosifolius Sm.	Rosaceae	Rosales
palmleaf dewberry	Rubus sieboldii Blume	Rosaceae	Rosales
beach naupaka	Scaevola taccada Vahl	Goodeniaceae	Campanulales
Brazilian peppertree	Schinus terebinthifolius var. raddianus Engl.	Anacardiaceae	Sapindales
red sesbania	Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
green bristlegrass	Setaria viridis var. major (Gaudin) Pospichal	Poaceae	Cyperales
American black nightshade	Solanum americanum P. Mill.	Solanaceae	Solanales
bittersweet nightshade	Solanum dulcamara L.	Solanaceae	Solanales
orangeberry nightshade	Solanum lanceolatum Cav.	Solanaceae	Solanales
purple African nightshade	Solanum marginatum L. f.	Solanaceae	Solanales
black nightshade	Solanum nigrum L.	Solanaceae	Solanales
Spanish broom	Spartium junceum L.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
swainsonpea	Sphaerophysa salsula (Pallas) DC.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
French tamarisk	Tamarix gallica L.	Tamaricaceae	Violales
tropical almond	Terminalia catappa L.	Combretaceae	Myrtales
herbaceous glorytree	Tibouchina herbacea (DC.) Cogn.	Melastomataceae	Myrtales
Sacramento burrbark	Triumfetta semitriloba Jacq.	Tiliaceae	Malvales
European mistletoe	Viscum album L.	Viscaceae	Santalales
Syrian beancaper	Zygophyllum fabago L.	Zygophyllaceae	Sapindales
leatherleaf mahonia	Mahonia bealei (Fortune) Carr.	Berberidaceae	Ranunculales
jetbead	Rhodotypos scandens (Thunb.) Makino	Rosaceae	Rosales
pigeon pea	Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Atlantic poison-oak	Toxicodendron pubescens P. Mill.	Anacardiaceae	Sapindales
Oregon grape	Mahonia nervosa (Pursh) Nutt	Berberidaceae	Ranunculales
European red raspberry	Rubus idaeus L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
border privet	Ligustrum obtusifolium Sieb. & Zucc.	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
Standish's honeysuckle	Lonicera standishii Jacques	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
Cherokee rose	Rosa laevigata Michx.	Rosaceae	Rosales
linden viburnum	Viburnum dilatatum Thunb.	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
rock rose	Cistus creticus L.	Cistaceae	Violales
giant bramble	Rubus alceifolius Poir. (1804)	Rosaceae	Rosales
privet	Ligustrum spp. L.	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
Chinese parasoltree	Firmiana simplex (L.) W. Wight	Sterculiaceae	Malvales
common lilac	Syringa vulgaris L.	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
Japanese snowball	Viburnum plicatum Thunb.	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
fuzzy pride-of-Rochester	Deutzia scabra Thunb.	Hydrangeaceae	Rosales
European spindletree	Euonymus europaeus L.	Celastraceae	Celastrales
Dyer's greenweed	Genista tinctoria L.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Japanese rose	Kerria japonica (L.) DC.	Rosaceae	Rosales
weeping lantana	Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq.	Verbenaceae	Lamiales
Amur privet	Ligustrum amurense Carrière	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
California privet	Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk.	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
dwarf honeysuckle	Lonicera xylosteum L.	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
cultivated currant	Ribes rubrum L.	Grossulariaceae	Rosales
dog rose	Rosa canina L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
sweetbriar rose	Rosa eglanteria L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
French rose	Rosa gallica L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
smallflower sweetbrier	Rosa micrantha Borrer ex Sm.	Rosaceae	Rosales
Seaside rose	Rosa rugosa Thunb.	Rosaceae	Rosales
memorial rose	Rosa wichuraiana Crépin	Rosaceae	Rosales
Himalayan berry	Rubus bifrons Vest ex Tratt.	Rosaceae	Rosales
strawberry raspberry	Rubus illecebrosus Focke	Rosaceae	Rosales
goat willow	Salix caprea L.	Salicaceae	Salicales
purpleosier willow	Salix purpurea L.	Salicaceae	Salicales
butterflybush	Buddleja davidii Franch.	Buddlejaceae	Scrophulariales
beach vitex	Vitex rotundifolia L. f.	Verbenaceae	Lamiales
Chinese fleecevine	Fallopia baldschuanica (Regel) Holub	Polygonaceae	Polygonales
hawk's eye	Euryops multifidus (Thunb.) DC.	Asteraceae	Asterales
cotoneaster	Cotoneaster spp. Medik.	Rosaceae	Rosales
Jerusalem-cherry	Solanum pseudocapsicum L.	Solanaceae	Solanales
hairy Indian mallow	Abutilon grandifolium (Willd.) Sweet	Malvaceae	Malvales
snowbush	Breynia disticha J.R. & G. Forst.	Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbiales
Lindley's butterflybush	Buddleja lindleyana Fortune ex Lindl.	Buddlejaceae	Scrophulariales
smokebush	Buddleja madagascariensis Lam.	Buddlejaceae	Scrophulariales
paradise poinciana	Caesalpinia gilliesii (Wall. ex Hook.) Wall. ex D. Dietr.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
purple beautyberry	Callicarpa dichotoma (Lour.) K. Koch	Verbenaceae	Lamiales
natal-plum	Carissa macrocarpa (Ecklon) A. DC.	Apocynaceae	Gentianales
Madagascar periwinkle	Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don	Apocynaceae	Gentianales
turk's turbin	Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze	Verbenaceae	Lamiales
Japanese glorybower	Clerodendrum japonicum (Thunb.) Sweet	Verbenaceae	Lamiales
orange cotoneaster	Cotoneaster franchetii Boiss.	Rosaceae	Rosales
February daphne	Daphne mezereum L.	Thymelaeaceae	Myrtales
creeping beggarweed	Desmodium incanum DC.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Hawai'i ticktrefoil	Desmodium sandwicense E. Mey.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
cherry silverberry	Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb.	Elaeagnaceae	Rhamnales
Scots heath	Erica cinerea L.	Ericaceae	Ericales
Spanish heath	Erica lusitanica K. Rudolphi	Ericaceae	Ericales
crossleaf heath	Erica tetralix L.	Ericaceae	Ericales
common pearlbrush	Exochorda racemosa (Lindl.) Rehd.	Rosaceae	Rosales
lilac chastetree	Vitex agnus-castus L.	Verbenaceae	Lamiales
nettleleaf velvetberry	Stachytarpheta urticifolia Sims	Verbenaceae	Lamiales
Thunberg's meadowsweet	Spiraea thunbergii Sieb. ex Blume	Rosaceae	Rosales
bridalwreath spiraea	Spiraea prunifolia Sieb. & Zucc.	Rosaceae	Rosales
false spiraea	Sorbaria sorbifolia (L.) A. Braun	Rosaceae	Rosales
corkscrew willow	Salix matsudana Koidzumi	Salicaceae	Salicales
Mediterranean broom	Genista linifolia L.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
panicled hydrangea	Hydrangea paniculata Sieb.	Hydrangeaceae	Rosales
anil de pasto	Indigofera suffruticosa P. Mill.	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
European blackberry	Rubus vestitus Weihe & Nees	Rosaceae	Rosales
largeleaf blackberry	Rubus macrophyllus Weihe & Nees	Rosaceae	Rosales
yellow Himalayan raspberry	Rubus ellipticus Sm.	Rosaceae	Rosales
damask rose	Rosa x damascena P. Mill. [gallica × moschata]	Rosaceae	Rosales
Scottish rose	Rosa spinosissima L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
cinnamon rose	Rosa cinnamomea L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
waxyleaf privet	Ligustrum quihoui Carr.	Oleaceae	Scrophulariales
longfruited primrose-willow	Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) Raven	Onagraceae	Myrtales
scarlet firethorn	Pyracantha coccinea M. Roemer	Rosaceae	Rosales
narrowleaf firethorn	Pyracantha angustifolia (Franch.) Schneid.	Rosaceae	Rosales
mazapan	Malvaviscus penduliflorus DC.	Malvaceae	Malvales
tapioca	Manihot esculenta Crantz	Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbiales
pinkhead smartweed	Persicaria capitata (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) Gross.	Polygonaceae	Polygonales
spearleaf swampmallow	Pavonia hastata Cav.	Malvaceae	Malvales
gingerbush	Pavonia spinifex (L.) Cav.	Malvaceae	Malvales
Peruvian groundcherry	Physalis peruviana L.	Solanaceae	Solanales
cyclops acacia	Acacia cyclops A. Cunn. ex G. Don	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
Bohemian knotweed	Fallopia x bohemica ( Chrtek & Chrtková ) J.P.Bailey	Polygonaceae	Polygonales
guava	Psidium spp. L.	Myrtaceae	Myrtales
firethorn	Pyracantha spp. L.	Rosaceae	Rosales
Washington hawthorn	Crataegus phaenopyrum (L. f.) Medik.	Rosaceae	Rosales
lady's-mantle	Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm.	Rosaceae	Rosales
ramgoat dashalong	Turnera ulmifolia L.	Turneraceae	Violales
Aaron's beard	Hypericum calycinum L.	Clusiaceae	Theales
goldflame honeysuckle	Lonicera x heckrottii Rehd. [×americana × sempervirens]	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
smooth crotalaria	Crotalaria pallida Aiton	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
common jujube	Zizyphus jujuba Mill.	Rhamnaceae	Rhamnales
silver wattle	Acacia dealbata Link	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)	Fabales
pride of Madeira	Echium candicans L. f.	Boraginaceae	Lamiales
withania	Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal	Solanaceae	Solanales
Oriental photinia	Photinia villosa (Thunb.) DC.	Rosaceae	Rosales
formosa firethorn	Pyracantha koidzumii (Hayata) Rehder	Rosaceae	Rosales
Sprenger's asparagus fern	Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop	Liliaceae	Liliales
laurustinus	Viburnum tinus L.	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
beach naupaka	Scaevola sericea var. sericea Vahl	Goodeniaceae	Campanulales
cardboard palm	Zamia furfuracea L. f. ex Aiton	Zamiaceae	Cycadales
Manchurian honeysuckle	Lonicera ruprechtiana Regel	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
Nepalese firethorn	Pyracantha crenulata (D. Don) Roem.	Rosaceae	Rosales
fly honeysuckle	Lonicera x xylosteoides Tausch [tatarica × xylosteum]	Caprifoliaceae	Dipsacales
five-leaf aralia	Eleutherococcus sieboldianus (Makino.) Koidz.	Araliaceae	Apiales

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Invasive and Exotic Shrubs

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