Official IISC Invasive Plant List

These species are listed as invasive in Indiana. The species listed below have been assessed to determine how invasive they are in the state of Indiana through a science-based, transparent approach that assigns points based on ecological impact, potential for expansion, and difficulty in management. The summed points are used to assign a ranking of high, medium, or low based on data at the time of the assessment.

  • High – These species are either regulated and prohibited from trade or will be evaluated for potential inclusion as a state regulated species in the future.
  • Medium – According to the assessment the species did not accumulate enough points to warrant regulation in Indiana.
  • Low – The cumulative points for these species indicate minimal risk.
  • Caution – Indicates the assessment could not be completed due to lack of information, but there is potential for invasion and negative impacts in Indiana.

Definitions (per Federal Executive Order 13751):

Native species with respect to a particular ecosystem, a species that, other than as a result of an introduction, historically occurred or currently occurs in that ecosystem.
Non-native Species or Alien Species with respect to a particular ecosystem, an organism, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that occurs outside of its natural range.
Invasive Species with regard to a particular ecosystem, a non-native organism whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human, animal, or plant health.


Established 26-Sep-2012 - Last updated 17-Apr-2020. How was this list developed?

Download a Plant List PDF sorted by:
Rank & Common Name | Rank & Latin Name
Growth Form & Common Name | Growth Form & Latin Name


Common Name Latin Name Invasive Rank Regulatory Status
goatsrue Galega officinalis Medium Federal noxious weed
giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum Medium Federal noxious weed
mosquito fern Azolla pinnata
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
caulerpa Caulerpa taxifolia
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
oxygen weed Lagarosiphon major
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
monochoria Monochoria hastata
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
heartshape Monochoria vaginalis
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
giant salvinia Salvinia auriculata
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
giant salvinia Salvinia biloba
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
giant salvinia Salvinia herzogii
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
giant salvinia Salvinia molesta
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
exotic bur-reed Sparganium erectum
Federal noxious weed, prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
Norway maple Acer platanoides High None
callery pear Pyrus calleryana High None
narrowleaf bittercress Cardamine impatiens Medium None
Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota Medium None
Russian olive Eleagnus angustifolia Medium None
burning bush Euonymus alatus High None
creeping charlie Glechoma hederacea Medium None
English ivy Hedera helix Medium None
Korean lespedeza Kummerowia stipulacea High None
striate lespedeza Kummerowia striata High None
white sweet clover Melilotus alba Medium None
yellow sweet clover Melilotus officinalis Medium None
Chinese maiden grass Miscanthus sinensis High None
wild parsnip Pastinaca sativa High None
bouncing bet Saponaria officinalis Medium None
tall fescue Schenodorus arundinacea Medium None
Siberian elm Ulmus pumila Medium None
vetch Vicia cracca Medium None
periwinkle Vinca minor Medium None
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum Low None
porcelain berry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Caution None
giant reed Arundo donax Caution None
common barberry Berberis vulgaris Caution None
sweet autumn clematis Clematis terniflora High None
lyme grass Leymus arenarius Caution None
Amur privet Ligustrum amurense Caution None
California privet Ligustrum ovalifolium Caution None
Chinese privet Ligustrum sinense Caution None
common privet Ligustrum vulgare Caution None
miscanthus hybrid Miscanthus x gigantea Caution None
princess tree Paulownia tomentosa Medium None
sawtooth oak Quercus acutissima Caution None
lesser celandine Ficaria verna High None
jetbead Rhodotypos scandens Medium None
wine raspberry Rubus phoenicolasius Caution None
Japanese meadowsweet Spiraea japonica Medium None
spreading hedge parsley Torilis arvensis High None
Japanese hedge parsley Torilis japonica High None
hybrid cattail Typha x glauca Caution None
highbush cranberry Viburnum opulus v. opulus High None
large-leaved periwinkle Vinca major Caution None
wisteria Wisteria sinensis Medium None
mimosa Albizia julibrissin Medium None
moneywort Lysimachia nummularia High None
beefsteak plant Perilla frutescens Medium None
ravenna grass Saccharum ravennae Medium None
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense High Noxious weed per IC 15-3-4.6; detrimental plant per IC 15-3-4
Johnson grass Sorghum halepense High Noxious weed per IC 15-3-4.6; detrimental plant per IC 15-3-4 and IC 15-3-5
kudzu Pueraria montana High Pest species per 312 IAC 18-3-16
flowering rush Butomus umbellatus High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
Brazilian elodea Egeria densa High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
anchored water hyacinth Eichhornia azurea High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
European frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
miramar weed Hygrophilia polysperma High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
Chinese waterspinach Ipomoea aquatic High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
yellow iris Iris pseudacorus High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
Asian marshweed Limnophila sessiliflora High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-3-13
white mulberry Morus alba High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-3-25
parrotfeather Myriophyllum aquaticum High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
brittle naiad Najas minor High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
yellow floating hearts Nymphoides peltata High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
duck lettuce Ottelia alismoides High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
curly-leaved pondweed Potamogeton crispus High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
water chestnut Trapa natans High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
narrow-leaved cattail Typha angustifolia High Prohibited invasive aquatic plant per 312 IAC 18-2-23
Japanese chaff flower Achyranthes japonica High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
black alder Alnus glutinosa High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
mugwort Artemisia vulgaris High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
small carpgrass Arthraxon hispidus High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
spiny plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
musk thistle Carduus nutans High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Asian bittersweet
More Info		 Celastrus orbiculatus High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
spotted knapweed Centaurea stoebe High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
bull thistle Cirsium vulgare High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
poison hemlock Conium maculatum High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
crown vetch
More Info		 Coronilla varia High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
black swallow-wort Vincetoxicum nigrum High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
pale swallow-wort Vincetoxicum rossicum High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Chinese yam Dioscorea polystachya (oppositifolia) High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
common teasel Dipsacus fullonum High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
cut-leaved teasel Dipsacus laciniatus High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
autumn olive
More Info		 Eleagnus umbellata High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
leafy spurge Euphorbia esula High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
glossy buckthorn
More Info		 Frangula alnus High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
dame's rocket Hesperis matronalis High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Japanese hops Humulus japonicus High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
pepperweed Lepidium latifolium High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
sericea lespedeza Lespedeza cuneata High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
blunt leaved privet Ligustrum obtusifolium High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Japanese honeysuckle
More Info		 Lonicera japonica High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Amur honeysuckle
More Info		 Lonicera maacki High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Tatarian honeysuckle
More Info		 Lonicera tatarica High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Bell's honeysuckle
More Info		 Lonicera x bella High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Japanese stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
reed canarygrass
More Info		 Phalaris arundinacea High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Amur cork tree Phellodendron amurense High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
common reed
More Info		 Phragmites australis High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
mile-a-minute Vine Polygonum perfoliatum High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Japanese knotweed Rynoutria japonica High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Giant knotweed Reynoutria sachalinensis High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
Bohemian knotweed Reynoutria. x Bohemica High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica High Prohibited Invasive Terrestrial Plants [312 IAC 18-3-25]
bicolor lespedeza Lespedeza bicolor Medium None
multiflora rose Rosa multiflora High Prohibited species per IC 14-24-12 and 312 IAC 18-3-13

IISC’s Invasive Plant Advisory Committee (IPAC) is responsible for Official IISC Invasive Plant List species assessments.