Non-Native Plant Species Invasiveness Assessments

A system/protocol designed to assess the invasive nature of non-native plant species was developed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in New York and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) in 2008, under the auspices of LIISMA (Long Island Invasive Species Management Area). The ranking system is designed to be repeatable, based on the best available science, clearly explained and fully documented. The system can be used to assess non-native plant species that are established in NYS, and also species that are new arrivals or are not yet present.

Completed NYS assessments and a full explanation of the process can be found on the NYIS.INFO Resources menu.

In order to better inform local efforts, species can be further assessed using the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) form. Completed assessments specific to Long Island can be found below.

Species Assessments for Long Island
 

Scientific Name	Common Name	LIISMA Profile
Acer ginnala	Amur maple	LIISMA
Acer palmatum Thunb.	Japanese maple	LIISMA
Acer platanoides	Norway maple	LIISMA
Acer pseudoplatanus	Sycamore maple	LIISMA
Aegopodium podagraria	Bishop's goutweed	LIISMA
Agrostis gigantea Roth (Agrostis alba auct. non L.; Agrostis gigantea Roth var. dispar (Michx.) Philipson; Agrostis nigra With.; Agrostis stolonifera L. ssp. gigantea (Roth) Schuebl. & Martens; Agrostis stolonifera L. var. major (Gaudin) Farw.)	Redtop, black bentgrass	LIISMA
Agrostis stolonifera L. (Agrostis maritima Lam.; A. palustris Huds.; A. stolonifera L. var. compacta Hartm.; A. stolonifera var. palustris (Huds.) Farw.; A. stolonifera var. stolonifera) (exclusive of native populations)	Creeping bentgrass	LIISMA
Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle	Tree of heaven	LIISMA
Akebia quinata	Chocolate vine	LIISMA
Albizia julibrissin Durazz.	Silktree, mimosa	LIISMA
Alliaria petiolata	Garlic mustard	LIISMA
Alnus glutinosa	European alder, black alder	LIISMA
Amelopsis brevipedunculata	Porcelain berry	LIISMA
Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm.	Wild chervil	LIISMA
Aralia elata	Japanese angelica tree	LIISMA
Artemesia vulgaris L.	Common wormwood	LIISMA
Arthraxon hispidus	Small carpgrass	LIISMA
Arundinaria Michx. spp.  (includes A. gigantea (Walter) Muhl., A. gigantea ssp. tecta (Walter) McClure [=A. tecta (Walter) Muhl.]	Bamboo, cane	LIISMA
Berberis thunbergii (incl. B. ottowensis)	Japanese barberry	LIISMA
Berberis vulgaris	Common barberry	LIISMA
Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) P.Beauv. ssp. sylvaticum	Slender falsebrome	LIISMA
Bromus tectorum L	Cheat grass, downy brome	LIISMA
Buddleja davidii Franch.	Orange-eye butterfly bush	LIISMA
Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray, Ann	Carolina fanwort	LIISMA
Callitriche stagnalis Scop.	Pond water-starwort	LIISMA
Cardamine impatiens L.	Narrowleaf bittercress	LIISMA
Carex kobomugi/C. macrocephala	Japanese sedge/largehead sedge	LIISMA
Caulerpa taxifolia	Killer alga
Celastrus orbiculatus	Oriental bittersweet	LIISMA
Centaurea jacea s.l. (including C. nigra, C. nigrescens, C. xmoncktonii)	Black knapweed, black star-thistle, brown knapweed, brown ray knapweed, brown star-thistle, lesser knapweed, meadow knapweed, protean knapweed, short-fringed knapweed, short-fringed star-thistle, tyrol knapweed, vochin knapweed	LIISMA
Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos s.l. (including C. biebersteinii, C. diffusa, C. maculosa misapplied, C. xpsammogena)	Spotted knapweed, spotted star-thistle	LIISMA
Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (C. setosum, C. incanum, Carduus arvensis, Serratula arvensis & all varieties of C. arvense)	Creeping thistle, Californian thistle, Canada thistle, field thistle	LIISMA
Cirsium palustre (L.) Scop (Carduus palustris)	Marsh thistle, European swamp thistle	LIISMA
Clematis terniflora	Japanese virgin's-bower	LIISMA
Coronilla varia (Securigera varia)	Crownvetch	LIISMA
Cynanchum louiseae	Black swallow-wort	LIISMA
Cynanchum rossicum	European swallow-wort	LIISMA
Cyperus difformis L.	Variable flatsedge	LIISMA
Datura stramonium L.	Jimsonweed, common thorn apple, Jamestown weed, purple thorn apple	LIISMA
Digitalis lanata Ehrh.	Grecian Foxglove	LIISMA
Digitalis purpurea L.	Purple Foxglove	LIISMA
Dioscorea polystachya (D. oppositifolia L. misapplied)	Chinese yam, Cinnamon vine	LIISMA
Dipsacus laciniatus L.	Cut-leaf teasel	LIISMA
Egeria densa Planchon	Brazilian waterweed	LIISMA
Eichhornia crassipes	Common water-hyacinth
Elaeagnus angustifolia	Russian olive	LIISMA
Elaeagnus umbellata	Autumn olive	LIISMA
Epilobium hirsutum L.	Great hairy willow-herb	LIISMA
Eragrostis curvula	Weeping lovegrass	LIISMA
Euonymus alatus	Winged burning bush	LIISMA
Euonymus europaeus L.	European spindletree	LIISMA
Euonymus fortunei	Winter creeper	LIISMA
Euphorbia cyparissias	Cypress spurge	LIISMA
Euphorbia esula	Leafy spurge	LIISMA
Euphorbia lathyris	Caper spurge, moleplant	LIISMA
Fallopia baldschuanica	Bukhara fleeceflower	LIISMA
Fallopia japonica (Hout.) Dcne. var. japonica, F. sachalinensis, F. xbohemica (Polygonum cuspidatum, P. sachalinense, P. xboehmicum)	Japanese knotweed, giant knotweed	LIISMA
Festuca filiformis Pourret	Hair fescue	LIISMA
Frangula alnus	Glossy buckthorn	LIISMA
Froelichia gracilis (Hook.) Moq.	Slender cottonweed	LIISMA
Galega officinalis	Professor-weed, common milkpea, goat's-rue	LIISMA
Galium odoratum L. Scop. (Asperula odorata L.)	Sweet bedstraw	LIISMA
Glaucium flavum	Yellow hornpoppy	LIISMA
Glossostigma cleistanthum (previously reported as G. diandrum)	Mudmats	LIISMA
Glyceria maxima (Hartm.) Holb.	Tall glyceria, English watergrass, reed mannagrass	LIISMA
Hedera helix	English ivy	LIISMA
Hemerocallis fulva	Orange daylily	LIISMA
Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier	Giant hogweed	LIISMA
Hesperis matronalis	Dame’s rocket	LIISMA
Humulus japonicus Sieb. & Zucc.	Japanese hops	LIISMA
Hydrilla verticillata	Waterthyme	LIISMA
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L.	Frogbit	LIISMA
Hypericum perforatum L.	Common St. John's-wort	LIISMA
Ilex crenata Thunb.	Japanese holly	LIISMA
Impatiens glandulifera	Ornamental jewelweed	LIISMA
Imperata cylindrica (L.) P.Beauv. (all vars. except koenigii)	Cogongrass, Cogon satin-tail	LIISMA
Iris pseudacorus	Yellow iris	LIISMA
Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. (Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J.Scott)	Mexican summer-cypress, burning bush	LIISMA
Lepidium latifolium L.	Broadleaved Pepperweed	LIISMA
Lespedeza bicolor Turcz.	Shrub lespedeza, bicolor lespedeza	LIISMA
Lespedeza cuneata	Chinese bushclover	LIISMA
Ligustrum amurense	Amur privet
Ligustrum obtusifolium	Border privet	LIISMA
Ligustrum ovalifolium	California privet	LIISMA
Ligustrum sinense	Chinese privet
Ligustrum vulgare	European privet	LIISMA
Lobelia chinensis Lour.	Chinese lobelia	LIISMA
Lonicera japonica Thunberg	Japanese Honeysuckle	LIISMA
Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Maxim.	Amur Honeysuckle	LIISMA
Lonicera morrowii LOMO2	Morrow's honeysuckle
L. tatarica LOTA	Tartarian honeysuckle	LIISMA
L. xbella LOBE	Fly honeysuckle
Lonicera xylosteum	European Fly Honeysuckle	LIISMA
Lotus corniculatus L.	Bird's-foot trefoil	LIISMA
Ludwigia grandiflora (Michx.) Greuter & Burdet ssp. hexapetala (Hook. & Arn.) G.L. Nesom & Kartesz	Uruguayan Primrose-willow	LIISMA
Ludwigia peploides (Kunth) Raven ssp. glabrescens (Kuntze) Raven	Floating primrose-willow	LIISMA
Lysimachia clethroides Duby Planchon	Goose-neck loosestrife
Lysimachia nummularia	Creeping Jenny	LIISMA
Lysimachia punctata	Spotted Loosestrife	LIISMA
Lysimachia vulgaris	Garden loosestrife, garden yellow loostrife	LIISMA
Lythrum salicaria L.	Purple Loosestrife	LIISMA
Marsilea quadrifolia	European water-fern	LIISMA
Microstegium vimineum	Japanese stiltgrass, Eulalia, Nepalese browntop	LIISMA
Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hack.	Japanese Silver Grass
Miscanthus sinenesis Anderss.	Chinese silvergrass	LIISMA
Morus alba	White mulberry	LIISMA
Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) Hand.-Maz.	Marsh dewflower, wart-removing herb	LIISMA
Myosotis scorpioides	True forget-me-not	LIISMA
Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt	Parrot-feather	LIISMA
Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx. (including M. heterophyllum X M. pinnatum)	Broadleaf water-milfoil	LIISMA
Myriophyllum spicatum L.	Eurasian water-milfoil	LIISMA
Najas minor All.	Brittle water nymph	LIISMA
Nasturtium officinale R. Br. ex Ait. (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Linnaeus) Hayek, Sched.	Watercress	LIISMA
Nelumbo nucifera	Sacred lotus	LIISMA
Nymphoides peltata	Yellow floating heart	LIISMA
Oplismenus hirtellus	Wavyleaf basketgrass, bristle basketgrass	LIISMA
Paulownia tomentosa	Princess-tree	LIISMA
Persicaria longiseta (Bruijn) Kitagawa (Polygonum caespitosum var. longiseta)	Creeping smartweed	LIISMA
Persicaria nepalensis (Meisn.) H. Gross (=Polygonum nepalense Meisn.)	Nepal smartweed	LIISMA
Persicaria perfoliata	Mile-a-minute weed, mile-a-minute vine	LIISMA
Phalaris arundinacea	Reed canarygrass	LIISMA
Phellodendron amurense	Amur corktree	LIISMA
Phleum pratense	Timothy	LIISMA
Phragmites australis ssp. Australis	Common reed	LIISMA
Phyllostachys Seibold. & Zucc spp. (includes P. aurea Carrière ex A. Rivière & C. Rivière, P. aureosulcata McClure, P. bambusoides Siebold & Zucc., P. dulcis McClure, P. edulis (Carrière) J. Houz., P. flexuosa A. Rivière & C. Rivière, P. nigra (Lodd. ex Lindl.) Munro, P. viridiglaucescens A. Rivière & C. Rivière	Bamboo	LIISMA
Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Makino ex Breitenbach	Crowdipper, green dragon	LIISMA
Pinus thunbergii	Japanese black pine	LIISMA
Pistia stratiotes L.	Water lettuce
Poa bulbosa L.	Bulbous bluegrass	LIISMA
Poa compressa L.	Canada bluegrass	LIISMA
Poa pratensis L.	Kentucky bluegrass	LIISMA
Populus alba	White poplar	LIISMA
Potamogeton crispus L.	Curly pondweed	LIISMA
Prunus avium L.	Sweet Cherry	LIISMA
Prunus cerasus L.	Sour Cherry	LIISMA
Prunus padus L.	Sour cherry	LIISMA
Pseudosasa japonica (Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai	Arrow bamboo	LIISMA
Pueraria montana	Kudzu	LIISMA
Pyrus calleryana	Callery pear	LIISMA
Ranunculus ficaria	Lesser celandine, fig buttercup	LIISMA
Ranunculus repens L.	Creeping Butter-cup	LIISMA
Rhamnus cathartica	Common buckthorn	LIISMA
Rhodotypos scandens	Jetbead	LIISMA
Robinia hispida L. (var. fertilis & hispida)	Bristly locust, mossy locust, rose acacia	LIISMA
Robinia pseudoacacia	Black locust	LIISMA
Rorippa amphibia L. Besser (Nasturtium amphibium L. W.T. Ait.)	Great yellowcress	LIISMA
Rosa multiflora	Multiflora rose	LIISMA
Rosa rugosa	Rugosa rose, Japanese rose	LIISMA
Rubus laciniatus	Cutleaf blackberry	LIISMA
Rubus bifrons Vest. ex Tratt. (R. armeniacus Focke; R. discolor Weihe & Nees, R. fruticosus exclusive of its type as per USDA)	Himalayan blackberry	LIISMA
Rubus phoenicolasius	Wineberry	LIISMA
Rumex acetosella	Sheep sorrel	LIISMA
Salix atrocinerea/cinerea	Large gray willow, European gray willow	LIISMA
Salvinia molesta	Water fern
Saponaria officinalis L.	Bouncing-bet, bouncing betty, soapwort	LIISMA
Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub (S. arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dum. nom. illeg.; Festuca arundinacea Schreb. ; F. elatior L. nom. rej.; Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire)	Tall Fescue, Kentucky Fescue, Reed Fescue, Coarse Fescue, Alta Fescue	LIISMA
Senecio jacobaea L.	Tansy-ragwort	LIISMA
Silphium perfoliatum L. var. perfoliatum	Cup-plant	LIISMA
Solanum dulcamara L. var. dulcamara	Trailing nightshade, bittersweet nightshade, climbing nightshade	LIISMA
Sorbaria sorbifolia (L.) A. Braun	False spiraea	LIISMA
Spiraea japonica	Japanese spiraea	LIISMA
Stratiotes aloides L.	Water soldiers
Syringa reticulata (Blume) H.Hara[(=S. amurensis (Rupr.) Rupr.; including S. pekinensis Rupr.]	Japanese tree lilac	LIISMA
Tanacetum vulgare L.	Common tansy	LIISMA
Trapa natans L.	water chestnut, water caltrop	LIISMA
Tussilago farfara L.	Coltsfoot	LIISMA
Ulmus pumila L.	Siberian elm	LIISMA
Valeriana officinalis	Common Valerian	LIISMA
Verbena bonariensis L. var. bonariensis	Purpletop vervain
Veronica beccabunga	European speedwell	LIISMA
Veronica officinalis	Common speedwell, gypsy-weed	LIISMA
Viburnum dilatatum Thunb.	Linden arrowwood	LIISMA
Viburnum lantana L.	Wayfaring-tree	LIISMA
Viburnum opulus L. var. opulus	European cranberry bush, Guelder rose	LIISMA
Viburnum setigerum	Tea viburnum	LIISMA
Viburnum sieboldii	Siebold viburnum	LIISMA
Vicia cracca L. s.l. (includes: Vicia cracca L. subsp. cracca, V. cracca subsp tenuifolia (Roth) Gaudin, V. villosa subsp pseudocracca (Bertol.) Ball, V. villosa var. varia (Host) Corb., V. villosa Roth villosa)	Bird vetch, cow vetch, winter vetch, bramble vetch, tufted vetch, shaggy vetch	LIISMA
Vinca minor	Common periwinkle	LIISMA
Vitex rotundifolia L.F.	Roundleaf chastetree, beach vitex, chasteberry, monk's pepper	LIISMA
Wisteria sinensis/W. floribunda	Chinese wisteria/Japanese wisteria	LIISMA

 
Resources
 
New York and LIISMA Invasive Plant Invasiveness Rankings as of 02/18/2011