Exotic Invasive Species

Severe Threat

Trees
Chinaberry, Melia azerdarach
Chinese Tallowtree, Triadica sebifera
Princesstree, Paulownia tomentosa
Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima

Shrubs
Autumn-olive, Elaeagnus umbellata*
Chinese Privet, Ligustrum sinense
Japanese Knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum
Scotch Broom, English Broom, Cytisus scoparius
Shrub Lespedeze, Lespedeza bicolor
Thorny-olive, Elaeagnus pungens*
Trifoliate Orange, Poncirus trifoliata

Vines
Bigleaf Periwinkle, Vinca major
Cherokee Rose, Rosa Laevigata
Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis
English Ivy, Hedera helix
Japanese Climbing Fern, Lygodium japonicum
Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica
Kudzu, Pueraria montana

Grasses
Chinese silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensis
Cogongrass, Imperata cylindrica
Itchgrass, Rottboellia cochinchinensis
Japaneses Stilt Grass, Microstegium vimineum
Johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense
Phragmites, Phragmites australis

Herbs
Sericea, Lespedeza cuneata
Tropical Soda Apple, Solanum viarum
Wart-removing Herb, Murdannia keisak

Significant Threat

Trees
Callery Pear (Bradford Pear), Pyrus calleryana*
Chinese Parasol Tree, Firmiana simplex
Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin
Paper Mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera
White Mulberry, Morus alba
White Poplar, Populus alba

Shrubs
Japanese Privet, Ligustrum japonicum
Multiflora Rose, Rosa multiflora
Nandina, Nandina domestica

Vines
Chinese Yam, Dioscorea polystachya
Common Periwinkle, Vinca minor
Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus
Sweet Autumn Virginsbower, Clematis terniflora

Grasses
Bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum
Dallisgrass, Paspalum dilatatum
Giant Reed, Arundo donax
Golden Bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea
Tall Fescue, Festuca arundinacea
Torpedograss, Panicum repens
Vaseygrass, Paspalum urvillei
Weeping Lovegrass, Eragrostis curvula

Herbs
Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare
Nodding Thistle, Carduus nutans
Queen Anne’s Lace, Daucus carota
Showy Rattlebox, Crotalaria spectabilis
Rattlebox, Sesbania punicea

Emerging Threat

Trees
Camphortree, Cinnamomium camphor

Shrubs
Tall Glossy Privet, Ligustrum lucidum
European Privet, Ligustrum vulgare
Sweet Breath of Spring, Lonicera fragrantissima
Jasmine, Lonicera fragrantissima
Macartney Rose, Rose bracteata
Jerusalem Cherry, Solanum pseudocapsicum
Roundleaf Chastetree, Vitex rotundifolia
Meadowsweet, Spiraea japonica
Saltcedar, Tamarix ramosissima
Beach Vitex, Vitex rotundifolia

Vines
Purple Crownvetch, Securigera varia
Asian/Japanese Wisteria, Wisteria floribunda

Herbs
Fig Buttercup, Ficaria verna

Alert

Trees
Russian-olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia
Sawtooth Oak, Quercus acutissima
Chinese Elm, Ulmus parvifolia

Shrubs
Japanese Barberry, Berberis thunbergii
Winged Euonymus, (Winged) Burning bush, Euonymus alata
Amur Privet, Ligustrum amurense
Amur Honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii
Leatherleaf Mahonia, Mahonia bealei
Wineberry, Wine Raspberry, Rubus phoenicolasius

Vines
Fiveleaf akebia, Chocolate Vine, Akebia quinata
Porcelain berry, Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
Bushkiller, Cayratia japonica
Japanese Dodder, Cuscuta japonica
Climbing Euonymus, Winter, Euonymus fortunei
Japanese Hop, Humulus japonicus
Old World Climbing Fern, Lygodium microphyllum

Grasses
Pampas Grass, Silver Pampas Grass, Cortaderia selloana
Deep-rooted sedge, Woodrush flatsedge, Cyperus entrerianus

Herbs
Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata
Spotted Knapweed, Centaurea stoebe
Field thistle, Cirsium arvense
Coco Yam, Taro, Colocasia esculenta
Dayflower, Commelina benghalensis
Liriope, Monkey Grass, Big Blue, Liriope muscari
Purple Loosestrife, Rainbow weed, Spiked Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria
Witchweed, Striga asiatica

Ferns
Swordfern, Mariana Maiden, Fern,
Torres’ Fern, Macrothelypteris torresiana

SOURCE: EXOTIC INVASIVE SPECIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY 2004, REVISED 2014

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