4904 Garges Road, Schwenksville PA

610-287-0480

Weeds and Invasive Plants

If dandelions were hard to grow they'd be welcome on any lawn. - Andrew V. Masonour

Why are some flowers called weeds, while others are desirable plants? A plant's behavior is as important as its appearance when it comes to answering this question. Plants that grow and reproduce too rapidly are becoming a serious problem. The following list contains plants that are weedy or invasive in Pennsylvania.

Perennials

Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard

Cirsium arvense Canada Thistle

Datura stramonium Jimsonweed

Lythrum spp. Purple Loosestrife

Phragmites australis Common Reed

Pueraria lobata Kudzu

Trees and Shrubs

Acer platanoides* Norway Maple

Ailanthus alissima Tree-of-Heaven

Berberis thunbergii* Japanese Barberry

Celastrus orbiculatus Oriental Bittersweet

Euonymus alatus Burning Bush

Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle

Rosa muliflora Multiflora Rose

* these species have some non-invasive cultivars

How Do I Know if My Plant is Invasive?

Sometimes a plant will show its invasive nature by spreading over, under, through, and into every possible space in the garden. In most cases it is nearly impossible to tell if a plant is invasive by simple observation. A Burning Bush looks completely harmless in the landscape, yet check in a nearby field or forest and countless seedlings will turn up. Getting a professional opinion is the best method to determine the invasiveness of your plant.

Characteristics of an Invasive Plant:

Non-native

Reproduces rapidly

Chokes out or eliminates competition

Poor food source for wildlife

Matures quickly

Grows in many different sites

Grows rapidly in disturbed sites

Sources

This sheet has been compiled from experience, information from the Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist Reference Guide, and the DCNR

This sheet has been compiled from experience, information from the Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist Reference Guide, and the DCNR