Status of Invasive Plants in Alabama

Invasive Plants by Category

• Aquatic - 12 species, 494 records
• Cactus - 1 species, 3 records
• Conifer Trees - 1 species, 8 records
• Ferns - 1 species, 3 records
• Forbs/Herbs - 214 species, 3530 records
• Grass or Grasslike - 80 species, 3458 records
• Hardwood Trees - 36 species, 2351 records
• Shrub or Subshrub - 62 species, 6979 records
• Vines - 42 species, 14644 records

Top Ten Abundant Invasive Plants (by number of reports)

1. Japanese honeysuckle - 12066 reports
2. Chinese privet - 5033 reports
3. cogongrass - 1321 reports
4. kudzu - 1174 reports
5. Japanese climbing fern - 707 reports
6. mimosa - 681 reports
7. Japanese privet - 513 reports
8. sericea lespedeza - 492 reports
9. Chinese tallowtree - 403 reports
10. chinaberry - 395 reports

Top Ten Widespread Invasive Plants (by number of positive counties)

1. kudzu - 67/67 (100%)
2. Chinese privet - 67/67 (100%)
3. Japanese honeysuckle - 67/67 (100%)
4. mimosa - 66/67 (99%)
5. sericea lespedeza - 66/67 (99%)
6. johnsongrass - 57/67 (85%)
7. cogongrass - 56/67 (84%)
8. chinaberry - 56/67 (84%)
9. common vetch - 55/67 (82%)
10. shrubby lespedeza - 54/67 (81%)

Counties with the most invasive species reported

1. Mobile County - 323 species
2. Lee County - 319 species
3. Tuscaloosa County - 255 species
4. Calhoun County - 234 species
5. Pike County - 232 species
6. Etowah County - 230 species
7. Baldwin County - 214 species
8. Limestone County - 202 species
9. Marshall County - 200 species
10. Blount County - 198 species

Counties with the least invasive species reported

1. Lamar County - 50 species
2. Fayette County - 53 species
3. Marion County - 53 species
4. Coosa County - 56 species
5. Washington County - 62 species
6. Marengo County - 68 species
7. Walker County - 68 species
8. Pickens County - 71 species
9. Colbert County - 85 species
10. Russell County - 85 species