The Department of Conservation and Recreation has identified plant species that cause ecological and economic harm in the Virginia. These plants have shown demonstrable evidence of threatening forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways. The species are grouped by their invasive impact. Plants with higher invasiveness are more likely to alter ecosystems, displace native plant communities and spread in new areas quickly.
For a downloadable version of this this list including which area of that state each species can be found visit the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of Natural Heritage website.
For more resources on invasive plants visit the Virginia Invasive Plant Coalition and Blue Ridge PRISM.
High Invasive Impact
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Alligator-weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Porcelain-berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
Japanese Sand Sedge (Carex kobomugi)
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)
Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Cinnamon Vine (Dioscorea polystachya)
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)
Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)
Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
Marsh Dewflower (Murdannia keisak)
Parrot Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Eurasian Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata)
Common Reed (Phragmites australis ssp. australis)
Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)
Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)
Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)
European Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Moderate Invasive Impact
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Colonial Bent-grass (Agrostis capillaris)
Five-leaf Akebia (Akebia quinata)
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
Joint Head Grass (Arthraxon hispidus var. hispidus)
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Brazilian Waterweed (Egeria densa)
Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Gill-over-the-ground (Glechoma hederacea)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Common Velvet Grass (Holcus lanatus)
Japanese Hops (Humulus japonicus)
Border Privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium var. obtusifolium)
Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)
Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
Chinese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)
Brittle Naiad (Najas minor)
Royal Paulowina (Paulownia tomentosa)
Long-bristled Smartweed (Persicaria longiseta)
Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
Flat-stemmed Bluegrass (Poa compressa)
Rough Bluegrass (Poa trivialis)
Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Jetbead (Rhodotypos scandens)
Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
Japanese Spiraea (Spiraea japonica)
Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Ivy-leaved Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia)
Linden arrow-wood (Viburnum dilatatum)
Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Low Invasive Impact
Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis)
Thorny Olive (Elaeagnus pungens)
Shrubby Bushclover (Lespedeza bicolor)
Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)
Chinaberry (Melia azedarach)
White Mulberry (Morus alba)
Beefsteak Plant (Perilla frutescens)
Timothy (Phleum pratense)
Silver Poplar (Populus alba)
Curly Dock (Rumex crispus ssp. crispus)
Crown-vetch (Securigera varia)
European Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)
Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
Greater Periwinkle (Vinca major)
Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
