The Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force’s (MoIP) 2021 List of Expanding Invasive Plants draws data from MoIP’s statewide assessment that was compiled and reviewed by experienced field biologists in Missouri. In addition to identifying invasive plant abundance and assessing the severity of the plants’ impact on natural communities, biologists estimated how rapidly the species’ ranges will expand to form new occurrences throughout each of Missouri’s primary ecological regions over the next 10 years. The results follow here.
Because of their vigorous expansion, the species on the 2021 Top Invasive Plants Expanding in Missouri list are particularly important to identify and control. See below for links to resources on how to identify and control each plant.
Click to download the 2021 MoIP flier listing top 25 expanding invasive plants in Missouri.
This assessment will be updated every several years based on additional and ongoing in-the-field observations and reviews.
1. Callery pear
Pyrus calleryana
- Learn about Callery pear at Invasive.org
- Learn about Callery pear at Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- How to Identify Callery Pear
Missouri Department of Conservation web page - Effective Control of Callery Pear
Instructions by Dr. Reid Smeda, MU Extension, for the Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force
- How to Identify Callery Pear
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Callery pear:
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Numerous young Callery pear trees in white bloom on roadside. Photo by MDC. -
Brown Callery pear fruits. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Bugwood. -
Callery pear leaves. Photo by Chuck Bargeron, UGA, Bugwood.
2. Garlic mustard
Alliaria petiolata
- Learn about garlic mustard at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of garlic mustard:
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Detail of garlic mustard’s small white flowers. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
A stand of garlic mustard. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood.
3. Sericea lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
- Learn about Sericea lespedeza at Invasive.org
- Native Slender Lespedeza VS Invasive Exotic Sericea Lespedeza: 1-page ID flyer produced by Hamilton Native Outpost
- Read a Missouri Prairie Journal article on Controlling Invasive Plants: Sericea lespedeza (pg. 31), Teasel (pg. 32), Caucasian, Plains and Other Old World Bluestems (pg. 32), Vol. 36, No. 1, 2015
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Sericea lespedeza:
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Sericea lespedeza. Photo by Dan Tenagila, Bugwood. -
Sericea lespedeza blossom. Photo by Dan Tenagila, Bugwood.
4. Invasive privets
Ligustrum spp.
- Learn about Amur privet at Invasive.org
- Ligustrum spp. identification and management overview from the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida
- Control options for Chinese privet — guide from University of Alabama Extension
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of some invasive privets:
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Comparison of Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)(top) and Glossy Privet (Ligustrum lucidum). By James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood. -
Glossy privet foliage. Photo by Karan A. Rawlins, UGA, Bugwood.
5. Reed canary grass
Phalaris arundinacea
- Learn about reed canary grass at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of reed canary grass:
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Reed canary grass seedhead. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Reed canary grass in edge habitat. Photo by Jamie Nielsen, Bugwood.
6. Japanese stiltgrass
Microstegium vimineum
- Learn about Japanese Stiltgrass at Invasive.org
- Read about a Japanese stiltgrass management success story at Pump Hollow Natural Area in the Poplar Bluff District of Mark Twain National Forest
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Japanese stiltgrass:
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Close-up of Japanese stiltgrass. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Japanese stiltgrass covering land along streamside. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood.
7. Invasive bush-honeysuckles
Lonicera spp.
- Learn about bush-honeysuckle identification and control at the Missouri Department of Conservation field guide
- Learn about invasive bush-honeysuckles from the Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Read an Amur honeysuckle success story from Katy Trail State Park
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of invasive bush-honeysuckles:
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Bush-honeysuckle flowers. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Large bush-honeysuckle plant. Photo by Richard Gardner, Bugwood.
8. Himalayan blackberry
Rubus armeniacus
- Learn about Himalayan blackberry on Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Himalayan blackberry:
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Himalayan blackberry berries and leaves. Photo by Joseph M. DiTomaso
, Bugwood. -
Himalayan blackberry invasion. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Bugwood. -
Himalayan blackberry leaves. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Bugwood.
9. Autumn olive
Elaeagnus umbellata
- Learn about autumn olive at Invasive.org
- Learn about Autumn olive at Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of autumn olive:
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Autumn olive invasion. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Autumn olive blossom detail. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Autumn olive fruits. Photo by John Ruter, Bugwood.
10. Japanese chaff flower
Achyranthes japonica
- Learn about Japanese chaff flower at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Japanese chaff flower:
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Detail of Japanese chaff flower. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Japanese chaff flower. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood.
11. Japanese honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
- Learn about Japanese honeysuckle at Invasive.org
- Learn about Japanese honeysuckle at Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- An Assessment of Japanese Honeysuckle in Northern U.S. Forests – USDA Research Note 2015
- Vegetation management guideline: Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), 1992 [12(4):217-218] R. Nyboer
- Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica): a literature review of management practices, 1984 [4(2):4-10] J.E. Evans
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Japanese honeysuckle:
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Japanese honeysuckle fruit detail. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Japanese honeysuckle vine. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Japanese honeysuckle flower detail. Photo by Chuck Bargeron, Bugwood.
12. Japanese hops
Humulus japonicus
- Learn about Japanese hops at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Japanese hops:
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Japanese hop growing next to water. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org -
Detail of Japanese hop. Photo by David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
13. Wintercreeper, climbing euonymus
Euonymus fortunei
- Learn about wintercreeper at Invasive.org
- Learn about wintercreeper at Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Invasive Plant Attack: Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ – PDF Presentation of Notes and Observations by Bill Ruppert, Organizing Member, 2017
- Wintercreeper Control – Guide by the Missouri Department of Conservation, 2017
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of wintercreeper:
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Wintercreeper spreading vine on tree bark detail. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Wintercreeper spreading up tree trunk. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood.
14. Teasels
Dipsacus spp.
- Learn about common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) at Invasive.org
- Read a Missouri Prairie Journal article on Controlling Invasive Plants: Sericea lespedeza (pg. 31), Teasel (pg. 32), Caucasian, Plains and Other Old World Bluestems (pg. 32), Vol. 36, No. 1, 2015
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of teasels:
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Common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) in a field. Photo by Steve Dewey, Bugwood. -
Cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus Laciniatus) plant. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus Laciniatus) invasion. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood.
15. Sweet autumn virginsbower
Clematis terniflora
- Learn about sweet autumn virginsbower at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Sweet autumn virginsbower:
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Detail of white sweet autumn virginsbower flowers. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Sweet autumn virginsbower clustered around post. Photo by John Ruter, Bugwood. -
Sweet autumn virginsbower climbing up a tree. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Bugwood.
16. Smooth brome
Bromus inermis
- Learn about smooth brome at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of smooth brome:
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Smooth brome. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Smooth brome seed heads. Photo by Dave Powell, Bugwood. -
Smooth brome leaves. Photo by Ohio State Weed Lab, Bugwood.
17. Invasive wisterias
Wisteria floribunda and Wisteria sinensis
- Learn about Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) at Invasive.org
- Learn about Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of invasive wisterias:
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Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda). Photo by John D. Byrd, Bugwood. -
Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis). Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis). Photo by James H. Miller, Bugwood.
18. Oriental bittersweet
Celastrus orbiculatus
- Learn about Oriental bittersweet at Invasive.org
- Learn about Oriental bittersweet at Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Oriental bittersweet:
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Oriental bittersweet foliage. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Oriental bittersweet infestation. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Oriental bittersweet fruits. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood.
19. Spotted knapweed
Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos
- Learn about spotted knapweed at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of spotted knapweed:
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Spotted knapweed in a field. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Bugwood. -
Spotted knapweed plant. Photo by Rob Routledge, Bugwood. -
Purple spotted knapweed flowers. Photo by Rob Routledge, Bugwood.
20. Japanese knotweed
Fallopia japonica
- Learn about Japanese knotweed at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Japanese knotweed:
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Japanese knotweed flower detail. Photo by Flickr user Andreas Rockstein. -
Japanese knotweed overtaking streamside. Photo by Flickr user Andreas Rockstein.
21. Burning bush
Euonymus alatus
- Learn about winged burning bush at Invasive.org
- Learn about winged burning bush at Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of burning bush:
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Burning bush leaf detail. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Burning bush on sidewalk. Photo by John Ruter, Bugwood. -
Burning bush escaping cultivation. Photo by Richard Gardner, Bugwood.
22. Birdsfoot trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
- Learn about birdsfoot trefoil at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of birdsfoot trefoil:
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Birdsfoot trefoil. Photo by Chris Evans, Bugwood. -
Detail of birdsfoot trefoil leaves. Photo by Ohio State Weed Lab, Bugwood. -
Detail of birdsfoot trefoil flower. Photo by Flickr user John Munt.
23. Johnson grass
Sorghum halepense
- Learn about Johnson grass at Invasive.org
- Johnson grass guides from MoIP’s Resources:
- Johnson Grass vs. Native Look-Alikes: ID guide published 2015
- Johnsongrass Control: University of Missouri Extension, 1997
- Vegetation management guideline: Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense [L.] Pers.), 1992 [12(4):219-220] M. Hutchison
- Invasive plant resources from Missouri Prairie Journal:
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of Johnson grass:
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Johnson grass. Photo by David J. Moorhead, Bugwood. -
Johnson grass seedhead. Photo by John Cardina, Bugwood. -
Johnson grass plant. Photo by Steve Dewey, Bugwood.
24. Old-world bluestems
Bothriochloa spp.
- Learn about Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) on Invasive.org
- Read Missouri Prairie Journal article on Controlling Invasive Plants: Sericea lespedeza (pg. 31), Teasel (pg. 32), Caucasian, Plains and Other Old World Bluestems (pg. 32), Vol. 36, No. 1, 2015
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of old-world bluestems:
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Yellow old world bluestem detail (Bothriochloa ischaemum). Photo by Karan A. Rawlins, Bugwood. -
Yellow old world bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum). Photo by Michelle Villafranca, Bugwood.
25. Common reed
Phragmites australis
- Learn about common reed at Invasive.org
- Explore MoIP’s Missouri invasive plant resources
- Find suppliers of native plant alternatives to invasive plants, and find professionals to help you manage invasive plants at the Grow Native! Resource Guide.
Representative photos of common reed:
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Common reed invasion on roadside. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Bugwood. -
Common reed plant. Photo by Rob Routledge, Bugwood.
Why some common invasive plants did not make this particular list
Plants listed above may be expanding rapidly in some Missouri regions, but not in others.
Some readers may be surprised to see that some commonly known invasive plants, such as multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) or ground ivy/creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea) are not listed. That is because this “Top 25” list emphasizes expansion of range/abundance. According to the assessment, multiflora rose shows only a “Gradual Increase” in all regions with sufficient data. That resulted in multiflora rose scoring much lower on this list than many other species that show more vigorous expansion.
Do you have an observation to share?
You may report observations of invasive plants in your area any time using the Mapping MO Invasives app or EDDMapS Midwest. These real-time mapping systems for documenting invasive species distribution are fast, easy to use and important for early detection and rapid response to invasive species before they become unmanageable problems.
State verifiers review all data to ensure accuracy. The data are made freely available to scientists, researchers, land managers, land owners, educators, conservationists, ecologists, farmers, foresters, state and national parks.
