List of invasive plant species in California

A list of invasive plant species in California.

Numerous plants have been introduced to the California Floristic Province and within the state's borders. Many of them have become invasive species and/or noxious weeds. The following are some of these species:

List

Acacia dealbata—silver wattle Acacia melanoxylon—blackwood acacia Acacia paradoxa—paradox acacia Agrostis avenacea—Pacific bentgrass Ailanthus altissima—tree-of-heaven Aira caryophyllea Allium neapolitanum—white garlic Alliaria petiolata Alternanthera philoxeroides—alligatorweed Alternanthera sessilis—sessile joyweed Ammophila arenaria Ammophila breviligulata Ampelodesmos Andropogon virginicus Arctotheca calendula—capeweed Artemisia biennis Anthoxanthum odoratum—sweet vernal grass Arundo donax—giant reed Asparagus aethiopicus Asparagus asparagoides—bridal creeper Atriplex lindleyi Atriplex rosea Atriplex semibaccata—Australian saltbush Atriplex suberecta Avena barbata—slender oat Avena fatua—wild oats Avena sterilis—animated oat Azolla pinnata Brachypodium distachyon—annual false-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum—slender false-brome Brassica nigra—black mustard Brassica rapa-field mustard Brassica tournefortii Briza maxima—rattlesnake grass Bromus alopecuros Bromus arenarius Bromus catharticus Bromus commutatus Bromus diandrus—ripgut brome Bromus hordeaceus—soft chess Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens—red brome Bromus secalinus Bromus sterilis Bromus tectorum—cheatgrass Broom (plant) Cardaria draba—whitetop Carduus acanthoides Carduus crispus Carduus nutans—musk thistle Carduus pycnocephalus—Italian thistle Carduus tenuiflorus—winged plumeless thistle Carpobrotus chilensis—sea-fig Carpobrotus edulis—iceplant Castor oil plant Caulerpa taxifolia Centaurea calcitrapa—purple starthistle Centaurea diffusa—diffuse knapweed Centaurea iberica—Iberian knapweed Centaurea solstitialis—yellow starthistle Centaurea sulphurea—sulphur knapweed Centaurea virgata—squarrose knapweed Chenopodiastrum murale Chenopodium vulvaria Chloris gayana Cirsium arvense—Canada thistle Cirsium ochrocentrum—yellowspine thistle Cirsium vulgare—bull thistle Cistus monspeliensis Conium Cordyline australis—New Zealand cabbage tree Cortaderia jubata—pampasgrass Cortaderia selloana—white pampasgrass Cotoneaster franchetii—Cotoneaster Cotoneaster lacteus—Parney's Cotoneaster Cotoneaster pannosus—silverleaf cotoneaster Crataegus monogyna—common hawthorn Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora—montbretia Cynara cardunculus—cardoon thistle Cynanchum louiseae Cynodon dactylon—Bermuda grass Cyperus rotundus Cytisus multiflorus Cytisus scoparius—Scotch broom Cytisus striatus—Portuguese broom Dactylis glomerata—orchard grass Dactyloctenium aegyptium Delairea odorata—Cape ivy, German ivy Digitalis purpurea—foxglove Diplotaxis muralis Diplotaxis tenuifolia Dittrichia graveolens Echium candicans—pride-of-Madeira Eichhornia crassipes—water hyacinth Elaeagnus angustifolia—Russian olive Equisetum—horsetail Equisetum hyemale—scouringrush horsetail Eragrostis cilianensis—candy grass Erica lusitanica—Spanish heath Erodium botrys—broadleaf filaree Erodium cicutarium—redstem filaree Erysimum repandum Eucalyptus camaldulensis—red gum Eucalyptus globulus—blue gum Euphorbia peplus Fallopia baldschuanica Fennel Festuca arundinacea—coarse fescue Festuca myuros—red-tailed fescue Ficus carica—edible fig Foeniculum vulgare—fennel Gazania linearis—gazania Genista canariensis—Canary Islands broom Genista linifolia—Mediterranean broom Genista monosperma—bridal veil broom Genista monspessulana—French broom Geranium dissectum—cutleaf geranium Geranium molle—covesfoot cranesbill Glyceria declinata—mannagrass Hedera canariensis—Algerian ivy Hedera helix—English ivy Hedypnois cretica Helichrysum petiolare—licorice plant Hirschfeldia incana—Mediterranean mustard Heteranthera limosa Holcus lanatus—velvet grass, Yorkshire fog Hordeum marinum—Mediterranean barley Hordeum murinum—hare barley Hyparrhenia hirta Hypericum canariense—Canary Island St John's wort Hypericum grandifolium—large-leaved St John's wort Hypericum perforatum—St John's Wort Ilex aquifolium—English holly Ipomoea cairica—Coast Morning Glory Ipomoea indica—blue morning glory Iris missouriensis—western blue flag iris Iris pseudacorus—yellowflag iris Ivy Kali tragus Koenigia polystachya (syn. Polygonum polystachyum) Lantana montevidensis—purple lantana Leucanthemum vulgare—ox-eye daisy Ligustrum ovalifolium—California privet Limnobium laevigatum Limonium perezii—sea lavender Limonium ramosissimum ssp. provincale—Algerian sea lavender Lobularia maritima—sweet alyssum Lolium multiflorum—Italian ryegrass Ludwigia hexapetala—creeping waterprimrose Malva nicaeensis Marrubium vulgare—horehound Medicago polymorpha—burclover Melilotus indicus Mentha pulegium—pennyroyal Mesembryanthemum crystallinum—common iceplant Myoporum laetum—myoporum Myosotis latifolia—common forget-me-not Myriophyllum aquaticum—parrotfeather Myriophyllum spicatum—spike watermilfoil Nassella manicata—Andean tussockgrass Nicotiana glauca—tree tobacco Nymphaeaceae—water lilies Oenothera glazioviana—redsepal evening primrose Olea europaea—olive Onopordum acanthium—Scotch thistle Oncosiphon pilulifer-sinkweed Oxalis pes-caprae—Bermuda buttercup Parietaria judaica—spreading pellitory Paspalum dilatatum—dallisgrass Pennisetum clandestinum—kikuyugrass Pennisetum setaceum—fountain grass Phalaris aquatica—harding grass Phoenix canariensis—Canary Island date palm Piptatherum miliaceum—smilo grass Pistacia atlantica Plantago lanceolata—English plantain Poa pratensis—Kentucky bluegrass Polygonum arenastrum Polypogon australis—beardgrass Prunus cerasifera—cherry plum Prunus lusitanica—Portuguese laurel Psathyrostachys juncea Puccinellia distans Pyracantha angustifolia—narrowleaf firethorn Pyracantha coccinea—European firethorn Pyracantha crenulata—firethorn Ranunculus repens—creeping buttercup Raphanus sativus—wild radish Retama monosperma—bridal veil broom Reynoutria japonica (syn. Polygonum cuspidatum)—Japanese knotweed Ricinus communis—castor bean Robinia pseudoacacia—black locust Rubus armeniacus—Himalayan blackberry Rubus laciniatus—barbwire Russian thistle Rumex crispus—curly dock Saccharum ravennae—ravennagrass Salsola paulsenii—barbwire Russian thistle Salsola soda—oppositeleaf Russian thistle Salsola tragus—Russian thistle Salvia aethiopis—African sage Schinus molle—Peruvian/California pepper tree Schinus terebinthifolius—Brazilian pepper tree Setaria verticillata Silybum marianum—milk thistle Sinapis arvensis—canola Solanum elaeagnifolium Solanum lanceolatum Spartina alterniflora—smooth cordgrass Spartina densiflora—Chilean cordgrass Spartina patens—Salt marsh hay Spartium—broom Spartium junceum—Spanish broom Stipa capensis—cape ricegrass Tamarix aphylla—athol Tamarix chinensis—Chinese tamarisk Tamarix gallica—French tamarisk Tamarix parviflora—smallflower tamarisk Tamarix ramosissima—salt cedar, tamarisk Tanacetum vulgare—common tansy Tetragonia tetragonioides—New Zealand spinach Torilis arvensis—spreading hedgeparsley Trifolium angustifolium Trifolium dubium Trifolium hirtum—rose clover Trisetum flavescens Ulex—gorse Ulex europaeus—common gorse Undaria pinnatifida—wakame Verbascum thapsus—wooly mullein Vinca Vinca major—periwinkle Vinca minor—dwarf periwinkle Viola labradorica Vulpia myuros Wakame Washingtonia robusta—Mexican fan palm Watsonia meriana—watsonia Zantedeschia aethiopica—calla lily Zostera japonica—Japanese eelgrass

See also List of California native plants Invasive species in the United States Natural history of California

External links California Cal-IPC: California Invasive Plant Inventory Database List USDA PLANTS Database: California State Noxious Weeds List Cal-IPC: California Invasive Plant Council homepage + information. Cal-IPC: CalWeedMapper California Native Plant Society—CNPS: Invasive Weeds + links. UC IPM" Invasive Plants of California — managing invasive plants. PlantRight.org: address and stop sale of invasive garden plants in California National Invasive Species Information Center: California Invasive Species Lists