Invasive Species in Vermont: Tools for identification and eradication

Upcoming invasives event in Burlington, see our events page.

Difficult to control and at times tricky to identify, invasives pose a severe threat to native plants and animals in forest communities by outcompeting and aggressively monopolizing light, nutrients, soil, moisture, and space.

According to information compiled by the Vermont Invasive Exotic Plant Committee, approximately one-third of plant species in Vermont are not native. Many of these plants are beneficial and economically important, such as our state flower, red clover. Others, like Queen Anne’s lace, have a neutral impact. But around eight percent of these non-native plants can potentially wreak great environmental and economic harm because of their ability to grow rapidly, profusely, and widely; these plants are invasive species. Unfortunately there is nothing preventing garden shops from selling certain invasives locally, and they are not labeled as such. Once established, these plants threaten.

The fact sheets below provide identification and eradication information on some of the most common invasives in Vermont.

General Resources on Invasive Species

• Vermont Invasive Exotic Plant Fact Sheet Series (PDF)
• Aquatic Nuisance Species in Vermont
• The Nature Conservancy Wise on Weeds Program
• The Nature Conservancy VT Landowner’s Guide to Invasive Terrestrial Plant Management (PDF)

Specific Species Information (Alphabetical)

The resources listed below describe identification and eradication of many of Vermont’s Class A and B Noxious Weeds.

Black Swallow-wort

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Black Swallow-wort

Common and Glossy Buckthorn

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Common Buckthorn
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet on Common and Glossy Buckthorns

Common Reed

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on the Common Reed

Eurasian Watermilfoil

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Eurasian Watermilfoil
• Invasive.org Eurasian Watermilfoil Page

Exotic Bush Honeysuckles

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Exotic Bush Honeysuckles

Fanwort

• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet on Fanwort

Garlic Mustard

• Vermont Master Gardener Information on Garlic Mustard
• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Garlic Mustard
• Columbia University Webpage on Garlic Mustard
• USDA Forest Service Garlic Mustard Fact Sheet (PDF)
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet on Garlic Mustard

Goutweed

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Goutweed

Hydrilla

• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet on Hydrilla

Japanese Barberry

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Japanese Barberry
• USDA Forest Service Japanese Barberry Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Invasive.org Japanese Barberry Page

Japanese Honeysuckle

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Japanese Honeysuckle
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet on Japanese Honeysuckle

Japanese Knotweed

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Japanese Knotweed
• Invasive.org Japanese Knotweed Page

Multiflora Rose

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Multiflora Rose
• Delaware River Invasive Plant Partnership Fact Sheet on Multiflora Rose (PDF)
• PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Web Page on Multiflora Rose

Norway Maple

• PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Web Page on Norway Maple
• National Park Service Web Page on Norway Maple

Oriental Bittersweet

• Invasive Plant Species Working Group Fact Sheet on Oriental Bittersweet (PDF)
• PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Web Page on Oriental Bittersweet
• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Oriental Bittersweet

Pale Swallow-wort

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Pale Swallow-wort

Purple Loosestrife General

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Purple Loosestrife
• Government of British Columbia Web page on Purple Loosestrife
• Invasive.org Purple Loosestrife Page

Russian/Autumn Olive

• National Park Service Web Page on Russian/Autumn Olive
• Invasive.org Web Page on Russian/Autumn Olive with Many Pictures

Smooth Bedstraw

• University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet on Smooth Bedstraw (PDF)
• Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District Web Page on Smooth Bedstraw

Tree-of-Heaven

• Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet on Tree-of-Heaven
• USDA Forest Service Fact Sheet on Tree-of-Heaven (PDF)

Water Chestnut

• Invasive.org Water Chestnut Page

Wild Chervil

• Vermont Master Gardener Information on Wild Chervil
• University of Vermont Extension Fact Sheet on Wild Chervil (PDF)
• USDA Forest Service Fact Sheet on Wild Chervil (PDF)

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