Status of Invasive Plants in Virginia

Invasive Plants by Category

• Aquatic - 15 species, 419 records
• Conifer Trees - 1 species, 2 records
• Forbs/Herbs - 246 species, 18535 records
• Grass or Grasslike - 76 species, 7128 records
• Hardwood Trees - 48 species, 3442 records
• Shrub or Subshrub - 74 species, 5466 records
• Vines - 35 species, 10717 records

Top Ten Abundant Invasive Plants (by number of reports)

1. Japanese honeysuckle - 6942 reports
2. tree-of-heaven - 1322 reports
3. Japanese stiltgrass - 1013 reports
4. autumn-olive - 875 reports
5. Chinese privet - 810 reports
6. exotic bush honeysuckles - 752 reports
7. tall fescue - 676 reports
8. English ivy - 527 reports
9. garlic mustard - 500 reports
10. oriental bittersweet - 416 reports

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

1. Chinese privet - 103/135 (76%)
2. Japanese honeysuckle - 103/135 (76%)
3. common chickweed - 102/135 (76%)
4. common mullein - 101/135 (75%)
5. Queen Anne's lace, wild carrot - 101/135 (75%)
6. red clover - 101/135 (75%)
7. ground ivy - 100/135 (74%)
8. common ragweed - 100/135 (74%)
9. lambsquarters - 100/135 (74%)
10. oxeye daisy - 100/135 (74%)

Counties with the most invasive species reported

1. Fairfax County - 411 species
2. Henrico County - 326 species
3. Montgomery County - 317 species
4. Albemarle County - 305 species
5. Fauquier County - 300 species
6. Loudoun County - 296 species
7. Arlington County - 289 species
8. Rockingham County - 284 species
9. Prince William County - 282 species
10. James City County - 274 species

Counties with the least invasive species reported

1. Colonial Heights city - 1 species
2. Danville city - 1 species
3. Emporia city - 1 species
4. Franklin city - 1 species
5. Hopewell city - 1 species
6. Manassas Park city - 1 species
7. Poquoson city - 1 species
8. Bedford city - 2 species
9. Fredericksburg city - 2 species
10. Lynchburg city - 2 species