Status of Invasive Plants in Georgia

Invasive Plants by Category

• Aquatic - 10 species, 332 records
• Cactus - 1 species, 13 records
• Conifer Trees - 1 species, 3 records
• Forbs/Herbs - 182 species, 2806 records
• Grass or Grasslike - 73 species, 2361 records
• Hardwood Trees - 33 species, 2257 records
• Shrub or Subshrub - 57 species, 9155 records
• Vines - 42 species, 13452 records

Top Ten Abundant Invasive Plants (by number of reports)

1. Japanese honeysuckle - 11033 reports
2. Chinese privet - 6351 reports
3. sericea lespedeza - 1122 reports
4. kudzu - 953 reports
5. chinaberry - 732 reports
6. mimosa - 638 reports
7. Japanese climbing fern - 597 reports
8. Japanese stiltgrass - 545 reports
9. shrubby lespedeza - 439 reports
10. cogongrass - 353 reports

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

1. kudzu - 159/159 (100%)
2. Chinese privet - 159/159 (100%)
3. Japanese honeysuckle - 159/159 (100%)
4. sericea lespedeza - 133/159 (84%)
5. mimosa - 126/159 (79%)
6. chinaberry - 122/159 (77%)
7. shrubby lespedeza - 86/159 (54%)
8. Japanese stiltgrass - 82/159 (52%)
9. Japanese climbing fern - 74/159 (47%)
10. johnsongrass - 72/159 (45%)

Counties with the most invasive species reported

1. Clarke County - 280 species
2. Lowndes County - 192 species
3. Chatham County - 178 species
4. Grady County - 153 species
5. Morgan County - 151 species
6. Elbert County - 149 species
7. Harris County - 143 species
8. Rabun County - 143 species
9. Baker County - 142 species
10. McIntosh County - 129 species

Counties with the least invasive species reported

1. Glascock County - 9 species
2. Webster County - 11 species
3. Quitman County - 12 species
4. Montgomery County - 14 species
5. Warren County - 14 species
6. Bleckley County - 15 species
7. Franklin County - 15 species
8. Schley County - 15 species
9. Treutlen County - 15 species
10. Banks County - 16 species