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Invasive Plants

Invasive nonnative plants consume wildlife habitat and compete with crops. This section helps you identify and control more than 25 of the most common invasive plants in Missouri.

In This Section

Invasive autumn olive in fruit

Autumn Olive Control

Learn to identify and control this highly invasive nonnative shrubby tree in Missouri.

bush honeysuckles

Bush Honeysuckles Control

Learn to identify and control invasive bush honeysuckles in Missouri.

Callery Pear

Callery Pear Invasive Species Fact Sheet (pdf, 403 KB)

Use this publication to learn how to identify and control the Callery pear, also known as Bradford pear.

Photo of Canada thistle flowers

Canada Thistle Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant.

Photo of Chinese yam showing leaves and bulbils

Chinese Yam Invasive Species Fact Sheet (pdf, 353 KB)

Use this print-and-carry sheet to identify and control invasive Chinese yam on your Missouri property.

Mature buckthorn with black drupes

Common Buckthorn Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant in Missouri.

Photo of common reed plants in large colony

Common Reed Invasive Species Fact Sheet (pdf, 364 KB)

Use this print-and-carry sheet to identify and control invasive reed canary grass on your Missouri Property.

Photo of crown vetch, closeup of a flower cluster.

Crown Vetch Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant in Missouri.

Photo of common teasel flowering heads.

Common and Cut-Leaved Teasel Control

Learn to identify and control invasive teasels in Missouri.

Photo of large didymo clump

Didymo (pdf, 341 KB)

Learn how to control or avoid Didymo or "rock snot".

Garlic Mustard

Garlic Mustard Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant in Missouri.

Heavenly bamboo, nandina, plant growing in the woods.

Heavenly Bamboo Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant in Missouri.

Photo of a clump of hydrilla held in a hand

Hydrilla (pdf, 419 KB)

Use this print-and-carry sheet to identify and control invasive hydrilla on your Missouri property.

Photo of hydrilla infestation

Hydrilla USDA Web Page

Hydrilla has been called the Godzilla of invasive aquatic plants, and it has appeared in Missouri. Visit the USDA's hydrilla species profile for details on how to identify and control it.

wispy white flowers on a stalk of green leaves

Japanese Honeysuckle Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive vine in Missouri.

Japanese hop

Japanese Hop (pdf, 361 KB)

Download this publication to learn how to identify and control Japanese Hop.

Photo of Japanese knotweed

Japanese Knotweed Invasive Species Fact Sheet (pdf, 375 KB)

Use this print-and-carry sheet to identify and control invasive Japanese Knotweed on your Missouri property.

Photo of Japanese stiltgrass

Japanese Stiltgrass Invasive Species Fact Sheet (pdf, 356 KB)

Use this print-and-carry sheet to identify and control invasive stiltgrass on your Missouri property.

Photo of Johnson grass flower clusters

Johnson Grass Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive grass in Missouri.

a huge mass of kudzu vines covering trees and ground

Kudzu Control

Learn to identify and control this highly invasive vine in Missouri.

Photo of leafy spurge seed heads

Leafy Spurge Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant.

multiple pink flowers on a single stalk.

Multiflora Rose Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant on your Missouri property.

Photo of musk thistle showing fuzzy purple flowers on tall, prickly stems

Musk Thistle Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant on your Missouri property.

Photo of several big bluestem seed heads against a blue sky.

Old World Bluestems Invasive Species Fact Sheet (pdf, 404 KB)

Use this print-and-carry sheet to identify and control invasive Old World bluestem grasses on your Missouri property.

purple loosestrife in a field

Purple Loosestrife Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant on your Missouri property.

Photo of several reed canary grass plants with flowering heads

Reed Canary Grass Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive grass on your Missouri property.

large group of sericea lespedeza plants

Sericea Lespedeza Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant on your Missouri property.

Photo of spotted knapweed plant showing foliage and growth habit

Spotted Knapweed Invasive Species Fact Sheet (pdf, 423 KB)

Use this print-and-carry sheet to identify and control noxious spotted knapweed on your Missouri property.

Photo of tall fescue plants

Tall Fescue Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive grass on your Missouri property.

Photo of white sweet clover flower cluster showing stalk and flowers.

White and Yellow Sweet Clover Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive plant on your Missouri property.

Wintercreeper

Wintercreeper Control

Learn to identify and control this invasive vine on your Missouri property.

Related Content: 

Invasive Species in the Field Guide

View biological information on all the invasive species listed in the field guide.

Invasive and Exotic Species of North America

This website includes any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species that is not native to that ecosystem, and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

Trees & Plants

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