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Tallgrass Prairie

Plants

Tallgrass Prairie

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Identification Tools

The following are plant species that are considered invasive to Nebraska, and present specifically in the Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregion. This includes the counties of Antelope, Boone, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lancaster, Madison, Merrick, Nance, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Pierce, Platte, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Stanton, Thayer, Thurston, Washington, Wayne, and York.

Click any photo below to learn more about these species and what you can do to help.

Nebraska Ecoregions Map

Future Invasive Plants

Species not known to exist in each ecoregion, but pose a significant risk if introduced

Priority Invasive Plants

Species are top priority for eradication for new and existing populations

State Noxious Weed

The term "noxious" means to be harmful or destructive, and is the legal term used to denote a destructive or harmful pest for the purpose of regulation. When a specific pest is determined to pose a serious threat to the economic, social, or aesthetic well-being of the residents of the state, it may be declared noxious by the Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Landowners can face fines if a noxious weed is not controlled on their property.

County Noxious Weed

The term "noxious" means to be harmful or destructive, and is the legal term used to denote a destructive or harmful pest for the purpose of regulation. When a specific pest is determined to pose a serious threat to the economic, social, or aesthetic well-being of the residents of the state, it may be declared noxious by the Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Landowners can face fines if a noxious weed is not controlled on their property.

Established Invasive Plants

Species are established and prevention of spread to new areas is a priority

Absinth Wormwood

Absinth Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium L.

Perennial forb found in roadsides that can spread from infested hay onto farmsteads.

Amur Maple

Acer ginnala

Can displace native shrubs and under story trees in open forests, and shades out native species in prairie habitats.

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Autumn Olive

Elaeagnus umbellata

Black Knapweed

Centaurea moncktonii

Out-competes other plants in pastures, hayfields, meadows, riparian areas, forest margins, and rights-of-way.

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Brittle Naiad

Najas minor

Thick infestations of can inhibit the growth of native aquatic vegetation and make fishing and recreational
boating difficult.

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Callery Pear

Pyrus calleryana

Canada Thistle

Cirsium arvense

Multi-million dollar losses in crop production due to competition. Releases toxic substances into the soil which inhibits growth of some plants.

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Caucasian Bluestem

Caucasian Bluestem

Bothriochloa bladhii

Establishes easier than the native bluestems. Increases risk of wildfire due to standing dry vegetation. Competes with native vegetation.

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Common Watercress

Common Watercress

Nasturtium officinale

Creeping Foxtail

Creeping Foxtail

Alopecurus arundinaceus

Crested Wheatgrass

Crested Wheatgrass

Agropyron cristatum and hybrids

Crownvetch

Securigera varia

Cutleaf & Common Teasel

Cutleaf & Common Teasel

Dipsacus laciniatus & fullonum

The teasels form large dense stands that choke out desirable plant species. This can reduce forage, wildlife habitat, and species diversity.

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Downy Brome

Bromus tectorum

Eastern Redcedar

Eastern Redcedar

Juniperus virginiana

Known

Priority

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Myriophyllum spicatum

Competes aggressively to displace and reduce the diversity of native aquatic plants.

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Established

Field Bindweed

Convolvulus arvensis

Field Garlic

Allium vineale

Established

Garlic Mustard

Alliaria petiolata

Competes with native vegetation by early growth, inhibits the growth of mycorrhizal fungi, and can be lethal to butterfly larvae.

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Giant Reed

Arundo donax

Chokes rivers and streams, crowds out native plants and wildlife, and increases fire potential.

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Giant Salvinia

Salvinia molesta

Poses a serious threat to lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and other freshwater wetlands, and cultivated rice fields.

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Goatsrue

Galega officinalis

Forms dense colonies that deter livestock movement. Is toxic to sheep. Competes with native vegetation.

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Hairy Vetch

Vicia villosa

Hoary Cress

Cardaria draba

Houndstongue

Cynoglossum officinale

Can cause skin irritation, gets caught in animal fur, reducing the value of the pelt.

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Hydrilla

Hydrilla verticillata

Forms tall and dense stands in the water column, blocking sunlight penetration potentially displacing other aquatic organisms and impeding water flow.

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Intermediate Wheatgrass

Intermediate Wheatgrass

Thinopyrum intermedium

Japanese & Giant Knotweed

Japanese & Giant Knotweed

Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis

Spreads rapidly and forms dense, altering habitat for wildlife, increasing the risk of flooding and river bank erosion.

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Japanese Brome

Bromus japonicus

Japanese Hops

Humulus japonicas

Japanese, Morrow's, Show Fly, Tatarian & Amur Honeysuckle

Japanese, Morrow's, Show Fly, Tatarian & Amur Honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica, L. morrowii, L. morrowii x tatarica and L. maackii

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass

Poa pratensis

Kudzu

Pueraria montana

Called “the vine that ate the South” because of its rampant growth over buildings, trees and objects.

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Leafy Spurge

Euphorbia esula

Costs millions of dollars annually due to lost production. Considered toxic to cattle. Establishes quickly and easily and out-competes native vegetation.

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Multiflora Rose

Multiflora Rose

Rosa multiflora

Musk Thistle

Carduus nutans

Prolific seed production. Forms dense colonies which reduces yield in forage crops. Competes with native vegetation.

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Narrow-Leaf Cattail

Narrow-Leaf Cattail

Typha angustifolia

Oriental Bittersweet

Oriental Bittersweet

Celastrus orbiculatus

Vigorously growing vine that smothers vegetation. This plant is displacing native American bittersweet through competition and hybridization.

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Osage Orange

Maclura pomifera

Oxeye Daisy

Leucanthemum vulgare

Established

Palmer Amaranth

Palmer Amaranth

Amaranthus palmeri

Palmer amaranth can be toxic to livestock. It can reduce
corn yields by 91% and soybean yields by 79%.

Phragmites Common Reed

Phragmites Common Reed

Phragmites australis

Forms dense stands over very large areas, restricting water movement, trapping sediment and causing changes in water quality.

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Plumeless Thistle

Plumeless Thistle

Carduus acanthoides

Thousands of dollars lost in Nebraska agricultural production annually. Competes with native vegetation.

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Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria, L. virgatum.

Thousands of dollars lost in Nebraska agricultural production annually. Competes with native vegetation.

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Quackgrass

Elymus repens

Redtop

Agrostis gigantean

Russian Knapweed

Russian Knapweed

Acroptilon repens

Forms dense, single species stands over time due to competition and allelopathy; is toxic to horses.

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Russian Olive

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Priority

Saint John'swort

Saint John'swort

Hypericum perforatum

A single plant can produce 15,000-30,000 seeds; Forms dense colonies and can be toxic to livestock. Competes with native vegetation.

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Saltcedar

Tamarix ramosissima

Pulls heavy amounts of water from the soil with long taproot; competes with native vegetation; standing vegetation can increase risk of fire.

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Sericea Lespedeza

Sericea Lespedeza

Lespedeza cuneata

Seeds remain viable for up to 20 years, contains dyes that reduce forage value and aggressively competes with native vegetation.

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Siberian Elm

Ulmus pumila

Sickleweed

Falcaria vulgaris

Forms dense populations, alters plant community composition and structure when it invades perennial grasslands.

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Smooth Brome

Bromus inermis

Spotted & Diffuse Knapweed

Spotted & Diffuse Knapweed

Centaurea biebersteinii, Centaurea diffusa

Allelopathic chemicals affect other plants. Establishes readily on disturbed ground, decreases forage production for livestock.

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Sweet Autumn Virgin's Bower

Sweet Autumn Virgin's Bower

Clematis terniflora

Vigorous growth rate, forms a dense tangle that can completely overtake supporting structures/plants.

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Tall Fescue

Festuca arundinacea

Tall Wheatgrass

Tall Wheatgrass

Thinopyrum ponticum

Tatarian Honeysuckle

Tatarian Honeysuckle

Lonicera tatarica

Tree-of-Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

Water Hyacinth

Eichhornia spp.

Rapidly grows/spreads, seen as dense floating mats on the water which restricts light for organisms below, inhibits recreational activities.

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White Mulberry

Morus alba

Yellow Bedstraw

Yellow Bedstraw

Galium verum

Can out-compete native species and ease of distribution makes it difficult to track.

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Yellow Bluestem

Yellow Bluestem

Bothriochloa ischaemum

Are less palatable and less nutritious to cattle than native warm-season grasses, and once established, are almost impossible to eradicate.

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Yellow Flag Iris

Yellow Flag Iris

Iris pseudacorus

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Yellow Starthistle

Yellow Starthistle

Centaurea solstitialis

Forms dense infestations and rapidly depletes soil moisture, thus preventing the establishment of other species.

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