List of invasive plant species in Massachusetts

Numerous non-native plants have been introduced to Massachusetts in the United States and many of them have become invasive species. The Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG) is a voluntary collaborative that was established in 1995 to advise the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on invasive plant species. They have categorized invasive plants as "invasive," "likely invasive," and "potentially invasive." The following is a list of non-native invasive plant species established in Massachusetts.

Invasive An invasive plant in Massachusetts is a non-native species (including its subspecies, varieties, forms, synonyms, and cultivars) that establishes self-sustaining populations in native or minimally managed systems and causes ecological or economic harm by becoming dominant or disruptive. ImageScientific nameCommon nameAcer platanoidesNorway mapleAcer pseudoplatanusSycamore mapleAegopodium podagrariaGround elder; goutweedAilanthus altissimaTree-of-heavenAlliaria petiolataGarlic mustardAlnus glutinosaEuropean alder; black alderBerberis thunbergiiJapanese barberryCabomba carolinianaCarolina fanwortCelastrus orbiculatusOriental bittersweetVincetoxicum nigrumBlack swallow-wortElaeagnus umbellataAutumn oliveEragrostis curvulaWeeping lovegrassEuonymus alatusWinged euonymus; burning bushEuphorbia esulaLeafy spurgeFallopia japonicaJapanese knotweedFicaria vernaLesser celandineFrangula alnusGlossy buckthornGlaucium flavumSea poppyHesperis matronalisDame's rocketIris pseudacorusYellow irisLepidium latifoliumBroad-leaved pepperweedLonicera japonicaJapanese honeysuckleLonicera morrowiiMorrow's honeysuckleLonicera x bellaBell's honeysuckleLysimachia nummulariaCreeping jennyLythrum salicariaPurple loosestrifeMyriophyllum heterophyllumVariable water-milfoilMyriophyllum spicatumEuropean water-milfoilPhalaris arundinaceaReed canary-grassPhragmites australisCommon reedPolygonum perfoliataMile-a-minute vinePotamogeton crispusCurly-leaved pondweedRhamnus catharticaCommon buckthornRobinia pseudoacaciaBlack locustRosa multifloraMultiflora roseSalix atrocinereaLarge gray willowSalix cinereaRusty willowTrapa natansWater-chestnut

Likely invasive A likely invasive plant in Massachusetts is a non-native species that has become naturalized but does not fully meet the criteria for designation as invasive. ImageScientific nameCommon nameActinidia argutaHardy kiwiAmpelopsis glandulosaPorcelain-berryAnthriscus sylvestrisWild chervilBerberis vulgarisEuropean barberryButomus umbellatusFlowering rushCardamine impatiensNarrowleaf bittercressCentaurea stoebeSpotted knapweedVincetoxicum rossicumEuropean swallow-wortCytisus scopariusScotch broomElodea densaBrazilian waterweedEpilobium hirsutumHairy willow-herbEuphorbia cyparissiasCypress spurgeFestuca filiformisHair fescueGlyceria maximaTall mannagrassHeracleum mantegazzianumGiant hogweedHumulus japonicusJapanese hopsHydrilla verticillataHydrillaJacobaea vulgarisTansy ragwortLactuca muralisWall lettuceLigustrum obtusifoliumBorder privetLonicera tataricaTatarian honeysuckleMicrostegium vimineumJapanese stilt grassMiscanthus sacchariflorusPlume grassMyosotis scorpioidesForget-me-notMyriophyllum aquaticumParrot-featherNajas minorBrittle water-nymphNymphoides peltataYellow floating heartPhellodendron amurenseAmur cork-treePinus thunbergiiJapanese black pinePueraria montanaKudzuPyrus calleryanaCallery pear; Bradford pearRanunculus repensCreeping buttercupRhodotypos scandensJetbeadRorippa amphibiaWater yellowcressRubus phoenicolasiusWineberryTussilago farfaraColtsfoot

Potentially invasive A potentially invasive plant in Massachusetts is a non-native species which has not yet naturalized in the state, but is expected to become invasive in minimally managed habitats. ImageScientific nameCommon nameArthraxon hispidusHairy joint grassCarex kobomugiJapanese sedgeLonicera maackiiAmur honeysuckle

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