This section provides info on the District’s main problem invasive species. Many of these species also impact the Mid-Atlantic region.
Common invasive species in the District can be categorized into five main categories.
Herbs:
- Beefsteak Plant (Perilla frustescens)
- Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
- Chinese Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)
- Common Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)
- Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
- European Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
- Fig Buttercup (Ficaria verna)
- Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
- Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
- Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
- Nodding Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum nutans)
- Sleepydick (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
- Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
- Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)
- Black Swallow-Wort (Cynanchum louiseae)
Vines:
- Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
- Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)
- Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
- English Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
- Japanese Hop (Humulus japonicus)
- Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
- Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)
- Mile-a-Minute (Persicaria perfoliata)
- Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
- Pale Swallow-Wort (Cynanchum rossicum)
- Porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
- Sweet Autumn Virginsbower (Clematis terniflora)
- Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)
- Control Options
Shrubs:
- Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
- Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
- Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
- Japanese Meadowsweet (Spiraea japonica)
- Linden Viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum)
- Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)
- Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
- Privets (Ligustrum obtusifolium, L. ovalifolium, L. sinense and L. vulgare)
- Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)
- Winged Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
- Control Options
Trees:
- Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
- Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
- Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)
- Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
- Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin)
- Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
- White Mulberry (Morus alba)
- Control Options
Aquatic Plants:
- Eurasian Water-Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
- Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
- Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
- Parrot-Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
- Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)