Status of Invasive Plants in Missouri

Invasive Plants by Category

• Aquatic - 10 species, 182 records
• Forbs/Herbs - 219 species, 11787 records
• Grass or Grasslike - 68 species, 3239 records
• Hardwood Trees - 34 species, 589 records
• Shrub or Subshrub - 34 species, 1979 records
• Vines - 30 species, 1315 records

Top Ten Abundant Invasive Plants (by number of reports)

1. sericea lespedeza - 976 reports
2. multiflora rose - 558 reports
3. Japanese honeysuckle - 276 reports
4. common mullein - 232 reports
5. shepherd's-purse - 228 reports
6. spotted knapweed - 225 reports
7. yellow rocket - 219 reports
8. yellow sweetclover - 216 reports
9. red sorrel - 208 reports
10. sulfur cinquefoil - 207 reports

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

1. common mullein - 114/115 (99%)
2. common ragweed - 114/115 (99%)
3. annual ragweed - 114/115 (99%)
4. shepherd's-purse - 114/115 (99%)
5. yellow rocket - 110/115 (96%)
6. yellow sweetclover - 108/115 (94%)
7. red sorrel - 105/115 (91%)
8. sulfur cinquefoil - 104/115 (90%)
9. Deptford pink - 101/115 (88%)
10. Queen Anne's lace, wild carrot - 100/115 (87%)

Counties with the most invasive species reported

1. St. Louis County - 378 species
2. Jackson County - 294 species
3. Boone County - 285 species
4. Jasper County - 233 species
5. Greene County - 226 species
6. Cape Girardeau County - 214 species
7. Jefferson County - 201 species
8. Newton County - 200 species
9. Franklin County - 188 species
10. Clay County - 182 species

Counties with the least invasive species reported

1. St. Louis city - 8 species
2. Daviess County - 63 species
3. Gentry County - 69 species
4. Worth County - 70 species
5. Shelby County - 71 species
6. Mercer County - 75 species
7. Scotland County - 78 species
8. Moniteau County - 79 species
9. Putnam County - 79 species
10. Harrison County - 79 species