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Invasive Species to Keep an Eye On!

Oklahoma's Invasive Plant Watch List

The Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council has developed a list of invasive plants by region.  These plants have invasive qualities and are present in the region or neighboring regions.  These are species that are not abundant yet in the area, but should be monitiored, reported and controlled before they become a bigger problem in the state. Below is a map of Oklahoma with each region labeled. 

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The invasive species in each region are listed below. 

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Chickasaw Country (South Central): Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Albizia julibrissin Durazz., Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb., Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake, Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent., Cyperus rotundus L., Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder, Melia azedarach L., Potentilla recta L., Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr., Pyrus calleryana Decne., Saccharum ravennae (L.) L.

Frontier Country (Central): Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Albizia julibrissin Durazz., Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.,  Arundo donax L., Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake,  Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent., Cyperus rotundus L., Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Elaeagnus pungens Thunb.,  Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb., Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder, Lythrum salicaria L.,  Onopordum acanthium L.**, Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., Potentilla recta L., Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr., Pyrus calleryana Decne., Saccharum ravennae (L.) L.

Great Plains Country (South West)Arundo donax L., Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake, Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent., Convolvulus arvensis L., Elaeagnus pungens Thunb., Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb., Glaucium corniculatum (L.) J.H. Rudolph, Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill., Lythrum salicaria L., Onopordum acanthium L.**, Potentilla recta L.

Green Country (Nort East): Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Albizia julibrissin Durazz., Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara & Grande, Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb., Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent., Cyperus rotundus L., Dipsacus fullonum L., Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder, Lythrum salicaria L., Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus, Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud., Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., Potentilla recta L., Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr., Pyrus calleryana Decne.

Choctaw Country (South East): Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Albizia julibrissin Durazz., Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara & Grande, Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent., Cyperus rotundus L., Dipsacus fullonum L., Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder, Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw., Melia azedarach L., Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus, Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud., Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., Potentilla recta L., Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr., Pyrus calleryana Decne.

Red Carpet Country (North West): Arundo donax L., Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake, Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent., Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.**, Convolvulus arvensis L., Elaeagnus pungens Thunb., Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb., Glaucium corniculatum (L.) J.H. Rudolph, Lythrum salicaria L., Onopordum acanthium L.**, Potentilla recta L., Saccharum ravennae (L.) L.

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Watch List Species   with links to more information!

Management Suggestions:

  • "Problem Horticultural Plants" article for the following species: Albizia julibrissin Durazz., Alternanthera philoxeroides, Elaeagnus umbellata, Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Cynodon dactylon, Pyrus calleryana, Ligustrum sinense, Wisteria sinensis, Wisteria floribunda, Securigera varia, Juniperus virginiana, Hedera helix, Hydrilla verticillata, Lonicera japonica, Pueraria montana, Albizia julibrissin, Rosa multiflora, Bothriochloa spp., Myriophyllum aquaticum, Paulownia tomentosa, Lythrum salicaria, Tamarix spp., Ulmus pumila, Eichhornia crassipes, Myriophyllum spicatum, Eragrostis curvala, and Iris pseudacorus.

  • "Integrated Management of Invasive Thistles in Oklahoma" article for the following species: Cirsium vulgareCarduus nutans and Onopordum acanthium.

  • "The Invasive Callery Pear" article for the following species: Pryus calleryana.

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