Non-Native Plant Species Biographies

Click here to learn more about the invasiveness ranking system developed for Alaska

Unified Ecoregions of Alaska3

Plant species (synonyms provided parenthetically) Plant Species Code1 Common name Invasiveness2 Pacific Maritime Interior Boreal Arctic-Alpine
Achillea ptarmica ACPT sneezeweed 46 Yes Yes Yes
Acroptilon repens† ACRE3 Russian knapweed 66 Yes Yes Yes
Aegopodium podagraria AEPO bishop's goutweed 57 Yes Yes Yes
Alchemilla mollis* ALMO12 lady's mantle 56 Yes Yes Yes
Alchemilla monticola* ALMO4 hairy lady's mantle 56 Yes Yes Yes
Alliaria petiolata ALPE4 garlic mustard 70 Yes
Alnus glutinosa† ALGL2 European alder 61 Yes Yes Yes
Alopecurus geniculatus ALGE2 water foxtail 49 Yes Yes Yes
Alopecurus pratensis ALPR3 meadow foxtail 52 Yes Yes Yes
Amaranthus retroflexus AMRE redroot pigweed 45 Yes Yes Yes
Anthemis cotula ANCO2 mayweed chamomile 41 Yes Yes
Arctium minus ARMI2 common burdock 49 Yes Yes Yes
Brachypodium sylvaticum† BRSY false slender brome 70 Yes Yes Yes
Brassica napus BRNA rapeseed mustard 47 Yes Yes Yes
Brassica rapa BRRA birdsrape mustard 50 Yes Yes Yes
Bromus inermis ssp. inermis BRINI smooth brome 62 Yes Yes Yes
Bromus tectorum BRTE cheatgrass 78 Yes Yes Yes
Campanula rapunculoides CARA rampion bellflower 64 Yes Yes Yes
Capsella bursa-pastoris CABU2 shepherd's purse 40 Yes Yes Yes
Caragana arborescens CAAR18 Siberian peashrub 74 Yes Yes Yes
Carduus acanthoides*† CAAC plumeless thistle 61 Yes Yes Yes
Carduus nutans*† CANU4 musk thistle 61 Yes Yes Yes
Carduus pycnocephalus*† CAPY2 Italian thistle 61 Yes Yes Yes
Carduus tenuiflorus*† CATE2 slender-flowered thistle 61 Yes Yes Yes
Centaurea montana CEMO perennial cornflower 46 Yes Yes Yes
Centaurea solstitialis*** CESO3 yellow star-thistle
Centaurea stoebe CEST8 spotted knapweed 86 Yes Yes
Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare* CEFOV2 big chickweed 36 Yes Yes Yes
Cerastium glomeratum* CEGL2 sticky chickweed 36 Yes Yes Yes
Chenopodium album CHALA lambsquarters 37 Yes Yes Yes
Cirsium arvense CIAR4 Canada thistle 76 Yes Yes Yes
Cirsium vulgare CIVU bull thistle 61 Yes Yes Yes
Convolvulus arvensis COAR4 field bindweed 56 Yes Yes Yes
Coronilla varia COVA2 crownvetch 68 Yes Yes Yes
Cotula coronopifolia COCO7 common brassbuttons 42 Yes
Crepis tectorum CRTE3 narrowleaf hawksbeard 56 Yes Yes Yes
Crupina vulgaris*** CRVU2 common crupina
Cytisus scoparius CYSC4 Scotch broom 69 Yes
Dactylis glomerata DAGL orchardgrass 53 Yes Yes Yes
Deschampsia elongata DEEL slender hairgrass 35 Yes Yes Yes
Descurainia sophia DESO2 herb sophia 41 Yes Yes Yes
Digitalis purpurea DIPU purple foxglove 51 Yes Yes
Elodea canadensis ELCA7 Canadian waterweed 79 Yes Yes Yes
Elymus repens ELRE4 quackgrass 59 Yes Yes Yes
Elymus sibiricus ELSI Siberian wildrye 53 Yes Yes Yes
Euphorbia esula EUES leafy spurge 84 Yes Yes
Euphrasia nemorosa EUNE3 common eyebright 42 Yes Yes Yes
Fallopia ×bohemica* (Polygonum xbohemicum) POBO10 Bohemian knotweed 87 Yes Yes
Fallopia convolvulus (Polygonum convolvulus) FACO black bindweed 50 Yes Yes Yes
Fallopia japonica* (Polygonum cuspidatum) FAJA2 Japanese knotweed 87 Yes Yes
Fallopia sachalinensis* (Polygonum sachalinensis) FASA3 giant knotweed 87 Yes Yes
Galeopsis bifida* GABI3 splitlip hempnettle 50 Yes Yes Yes
Galeopsis tetrahit* GATE2 brittlestem hempnettle 50 Yes Yes Yes
Geranium robertianum GERO herb Robert 67 Yes Yes Yes
Glechoma hederacea GLHE2 ground ivy 48 Yes Yes Yes
Gypsophila paniculata GYPA baby's-breath 57 Yes Yes Yes
Hedera helix HEHE English ivy 73 Yes
Heracleum mantegazzianum HEMA17 giant hogweed 81 Yes Yes Yes
Hesperis matronalis HEMA3 dames rocket 41 Yes Yes
Hieracium aurantiacum* HIAU orange hawkweed 79 Yes Yes Yes
Hieracium caespitosum* HICA10 meadow hawkweed 79 Yes Yes Yes
Hieracium lachenalii HILA8 common hawkweed 57 Yes Yes Yes
Hieracium pilosella HIPIP mouse-ear hawkweed 63 Yes Yes Yes
Hieracium umbellatum HIUM narrowleaf hawkweed 51 Yes Yes Yes
Holcus lanatus HOLA common velvetgrass 56 Yes
Hordeum jubatum HOJU foxtail barley 63 Yes Yes Yes
Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum HOMUL leporinum barley 60 Yes
Hordeum vulgare HOVU common barley 39 Yes Yes Yes
Hydrilla verticillata† HYVE3 hydrilla 80 Yes Yes Yes
Hypericum perforatum HYPE common St. Johnswort 52 Yes Yes Yes
Hypochaeris radicata HYRA3 hairy catsear 44 Yes Yes Yes
Ilex aquifolium ILAQ80 English holly 67 Yes
Impatiens glandulifera IMGL ornamental jewelweed 82 Yes Yes
Iris pseudacorus IRPS yellowflag iris 66 Yes Yes Yes
Lamium album LAAL white deadnettle 40 Yes Yes Yes
Lappula squarrosa LASQ European stickseed 44 Yes Yes Yes
Lapsana communis LACO3 nipplewort 33 Yes Yes Yes
Leontodon autumnalis LEAU2 fall dandelion 51 Yes Yes Yes
Lepidium densiflorum LEDE common pepperweed 25 Yes Yes Yes
Lepidium latifolium LELA2 broadleaved pepperweed 71 Yes Yes
Leucanthemum vulgare LEVU oxeye daisy 61 Yes Yes Yes
Linaria dalmatica LIDA Dalmatian toadflax 58 Yes
Linaria vulgaris LIVU2 yellow toadflax 69 Yes Yes Yes
Lolium multiflorum (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) LOMU Italian ryegrass 41 Yes Yes Yes
Lolium perenne (Lolium perenne ssp. perenne) LOPE perennial ryegrass 52 Yes Yes Yes
Lonicera tatarica LOTA Tatarian honeysuckle 66 Yes Yes
Lotus corniculatus LOCO6 birdsfoot trefoil 65 Yes Yes Yes
Lupinus polyphyllus** LUPOP4 bigleaf lupine 71 Yes Yes Yes
Lythrum salicaria* LYSA2 purple loosestrife 84 Yes
Lythrum virgatum* LYVI3 European wand loosestrife 84 Yes
Matricaria discoidea MADI6 pineappleweed 32 Yes Yes Yes
Medicago lupulina MELU black medick 48 Yes Yes Yes
Medicago sativa ssp. falcata MESAF yellow alfalfa 64 Yes Yes Yes
Medicago sativa ssp. sativa MESAS alfalfa 59 Yes Yes Yes
Melilotus alba MEAL12 white sweetclover 81 Yes Yes Yes
Melilotus officinalis MEOF yellow sweetclover 69 Yes Yes Yes
Mentha ×piperita* MEPI peppermint 43 Yes Yes Yes
Mentha spicata* MESP3 spearmint 43 Yes Yes Yes
Mycelis muralis MYMU wall lettuce 31 Yes
Myosotis scorpioides MYSC European forget-me-not 54 Yes Yes Yes
Myriophyllum spicatum MYSP2 Eurasian watermilfoil 90 Yes Yes Yes
Nymphaea odorata ssp. odorata NYODO American white waterlily 80 Yes
Papaver croceum PACR80 Icelandic poppy 39 Yes Yes Yes
Persicaria lapathifolia* (Polygonum lapathifolium) PELA22 curlytop knotweed 47 Yes Yes Yes
Persicaria maculosa* (Polygonum persicaria) PEMA24 spotted ladysthumb 47 Yes Yes Yes
Persicaria wallichii (Polygonum polystachyum) POPO5 Himalayan knotweed 80 Yes
Phalaris arundinacea PHAR3 reed canarygrass 83 Yes Yes Yes
Phleum pratense PHPR3 timothy 54 Yes Yes Yes
Phragmites australis PHAU7 common reed 83 Yes Yes Yes
Plantago major PLMA2 common plantain 44 Yes Yes Yes
Poa annua POAN annual bluegrass 46 Yes Yes Yes
Poa compressa POCO Canada bluegrass 39 Yes Yes Yes
Poa pratensis ssp. irrigata* POPR spreading bluegrass 52 Yes Yes Yes
Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis* POPR Kentucky bluegrass 52 Yes Yes Yes
Poa trivialis* POTR2 rough bluegrass 52 Yes Yes Yes
Polygonum aviculare POAV prostrate knotweed 45 Yes Yes Yes
Potentilla recta† PORE5 sulfur cinquefoil 57 Yes Yes
Prunus padus PRPA5 European bird cherry 74 Yes Yes
Prunus virginiana PRVI chokecherry 74 Yes Yes Yes
Ranunculus acris* RAAC3 tall buttercup 54 Yes Yes Yes
Ranunculus repens* RARE3 creeping buttercup 54 Yes Yes Yes
Rosa rugosa RORU rugosa rose 72 Yes Yes Yes
Rubus discolor RUDI2 Himalayan blackberry 77 Yes
Rumex acetosella RUAC3 common sheep sorrel 51 Yes Yes Yes
Rumex crispus* RUCR curly dock 48 Yes Yes Yes
Rumex longifolius* RULO2 dooryard dock 48 Yes Yes Yes
Rumex obtusifolius* RUOB bitter dock 48 Yes Yes Yes
Sagina procumbens SAPR birdseye pearlwort 39 Yes Yes Yes
Saponaria officinalis SAOF4 bouncingbet 34 Yes Yes
Schedonorus arundinaceus SCPH tall fescue 63 Yes Yes Yes
Senecio jacobaea SEJA tansy ragwort 63 Yes Yes Yes
Senecio sylvaticus SESY woodland ragwort 41 Yes Yes Yes
Senecio vulgaris SEVU common groundsel 36 Yes Yes Yes
Silene chalcedonica LYCH3 Maltese cross 42 Yes Yes Yes
Silene dioica* SIDI4 red catchfly 42 Yes Yes Yes
Silene latifolia* SILA21 white cockle 42 Yes Yes Yes
Silene noctiflora* SINO nightflowering silene 42 Yes Yes Yes
Silene vulgaris* SIVU bladder campion 42 Yes Yes Yes
Sonchus arvensis SOAR2 perennial sowthistle 73 Yes Yes
Sonchus asper SOAS spiny sowthistle 46 Yes Yes Yes
Sonchus oleraceus SOOL annual sowthistle 46 Yes Yes Yes
Sorbus aucuparia SOAU European mountain ash 59 Yes
Spartina alterniflora*† SPAL smooth cordgrass 86 Yes
Spartina anglica*† SPAN5 common cordgrass 86 Yes
Spartina densiflora*† SPDE2 denseflower cordgrass 86 Yes
Spartina patens*† SPPA saltmeadow cordgrass 86 Yes
Spergula arvensis SPAR corn spurry 32 Yes Yes Yes
Spergularia rubra SPRU red sandspurry 34 Yes Yes Yes
Stellaria media (non-seabird sites) STME2 common chickweed 42 Yes Yes Yes
Stellaria media (seabird colonies) STME2 common chickweed 54 Yes Yes Yes
Symphytum officinale SYOF common comfrey 48 Yes Yes Yes
Tanacetum vulgare TAVU common tansy 60 Yes Yes Yes
Taraxacum officinale(Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale) TAOF common dandelion 58 Yes Yes Yes
Thlaspi arvense THAR5 field pennycress 42 Yes Yes Yes
Tragopogon dubius TRDU yellow salsify 50 Yes Yes
Trifolium dubium TRDU2 suckling clover 50 Yes Yes Yes
Trifolium hybridum TRHY alsike clover 57 Yes Yes Yes
Trifolium pratense TRPR2 red clover 53 Yes Yes Yes
Trifolium repens TRRE3 white clover 59 Yes Yes Yes
Tripleurospermum inodorum TRIN11 scentless chamomile 48 Yes Yes Yes
Verbascum thapsus VETH common mullein 52 Yes Yes
Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia VESES thymeleaf speedwell 36 Yes Yes Yes
Vicia cracca ssp. cracca (Vicia cracca) VICRC bird vetch 73 Yes Yes Yes
Vicia villosa VIVI winter vetch 53 Yes Yes
Viola tricolor VITR johnny jumpup 34 Yes Yes Yes
Zostera japonica† ZOJA2 dwarf eelgrass 53 Yes Yes
Table modified from Nawrocki et al. 2011. Invasiveness ranking system of 50 non-native plants for Alaska. Report prepared for Alaska Association of Conservation Districts. 38 pp.
† Species not known from Alaska or neighboring Canadian Territories (per AKEPIC and ALA Herbarium databases as of February 2012)
* Congeneric species ranked together
** the native status of Hordeum jubatum and Lupinus polyphyllus is debated
***Centaurea solstitialis and Crupina vulgaris were rejected from consideration in the climate screening phase
1 Plant Species Code taken from http://plants.usda.gov/java/
2 Invasiveness Scores (Carlson et al. 2008)
>80 = Extremely Invasive
70-79 = Highly Invasive
60-69 = Moderately Invasive
50-59 = Modestly Invasive
40-49 = Weakly Invasive
< 40 = Very Weakly Invasive
3 Unified Ecoregions of Alaska (Nowacki et al. 2001)
Yes = present or high probability of establishing in the ecoregion
– = absent and low probability of establishment

Download list of ranked non-native plant species in Alaska (.xls)

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