Common Invasive Plants Every Master Gardener Should Know

by Elizabeth McCoy · Published November 21, 2024 · Updated November 21, 2024

Leatherleaf Mahonia drupes follow showy yellow winter flowers. These are edible and support wildlife. This common Asian shrub has been recently added to Virginia’s invasive species list.

The question of invasive plants is an interesting one, in part because the list keeps growing. Some of the plants on this list may surprise you because they are so commonly found in our local yards and landscapes. A few plants have just been added to the list over the past year. While some, like stilt grass are noxious weeds, many of these ornamental plants are still available in the nursery trade. Several are beloved by local butterflies and birds. These are all considered invasive now in Coastal Virginia because of how they spread outside of cultivation.

The issue of ‘invasive’ vs. imported vs. native plants may come up in conversations during Master Gardener project home visits. Although several native tree and perennial species also spread aggressively, whether by rhizomes or seed dispersal, native plants are never termed invasive.

There are several additional grasses and aquatic plants on the list at the link below that aren’t included in this more general list.

Invasive Plant Species of Virginia DCR

VA Invasive Plant Species List September 2024

Sweet autumn Clematis, an Asian vine, clambers over a Myrica shrub at Black Point on Jamestown Island. This Clematis species out competes our native C. virginiana.

Vines

Celastrus orbiculatus, Oriental Bittersweet

Clematis terniflora, Sweet Autumn Clematis

Hedera helix, English Ivy

Lysimachia nummularia, Creeping Jenny, Moneywort

Lonicera japonica, Japanese Honeysuckle

Lonicera spp. (some species are native and not considered invasive)

Pueraria montana var. lobata, Kudzu

Vinca minor, Periwinkle

Wisteria floribunda, Japanese Wisteria

Wisteria sinensis, Chinese Wisteria

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail nectars on butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii. Look for sterile cultivars that won’t drop seeds if you want to include it in a butterfly garden.

Shrubs

Berberis (formerly Mahonia) bealei, leatherleaf mahonia

Berberis thunbergii, Japanese barberry

Buddleja davidii, Butterfly-Bush

Elaeagnus umbellata, Autumn Olive

Euonymus alatus, Burning Bush, Winged Euonymus

Ligustrum spp., Privet

Nandina domestica, Heavenly Bamboo

Rosa multiflora, Multiflora Rose

Callery pear, once a desirable ornamental tree used in residential landscaping, has escaped cultivation and out competes native species. Many animals eat its fruits, spreading its seeds.