Invasive Alien Plant Species in Virginia

View The VNPS Nursery List

Alien plants are plants introduced by people either accidentally or on purpose into a region far from their native habitat. For the most part alien species form an important part of our culture and contribute immensly to farming, gardening, landscaping, and soil stabilization. Nevertheless, among the many plant species introduced, some have displayed unexpected growth tendencies. While many of these plants do not persist in the wild, some readily invade natural and semi-natural areas. Invasive alien plants typically exhibit the following characteristics:

• Rapid growth and maturity
• Prolific seed production
• Highly successful seed dispersal, germination, and colonization
• Rampant vegetative spread
• Ability to outcompete native species
• High cost of removal and control

Invasive alien plants thrive in disturbed sites. Native plant communities fragmented by human disturbance are most vulnerable to invasion, but the most invasive species can infest even intact ecosystems. Invasive alien plants are free of natural controls such as insects and diseases that keep them in balance in their native habitats.

To confront this problem of ecological stability the Virginia Native Plant Society and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation have combined their resources in an Invasive Alien Plant Project with the following goals:

• Identify alien plant species that have potential to become invasive in Virginia.
• Document the threat posed by specific invasive plant species.
• Educate the public about the issue of invasive plant species.
• Coordinate with other agencies and organizations to identify mutual concerns and develop reasonable solutions to the problem of invasive plant species.
• Develop and use sound practices for control of invasive species in natural areas.

The VNPS and Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage have compiled a list* of the more troublesome invasive alien plants found in Virginia.

See our list of Invasive Plant sites for additional information.

For more information about Alien Invasive plants in Virginia visit the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage Web site.

* You will need the free Adobe Acrobat reader to access this list.

Virginia Native Plant Society 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2 Boyce, Virginia 22620