Plants
Shortgrass Prairie
Download the current weed watch list
Identification Tools
The following are plant species that are considered invasive to Nebraska, and present specifically in the Shortgrass Prairie Ecoregion. This includes the counties of Banner, Box Butte, Chase, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Dundy, Keith, Kimball, Morrill, Perkins, Scotts Bluff, and Sioux.
Click any photo below to learn more about these species and what you can do to help.
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
Artemisia absinthium L.
Brittle Naiad
Najas minor
boating difficult.
Canada Thistle
Cirsium arvense
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Giant Reed
Arundo donax
Giant Salvinia
Salvinia molesta
Goatsrue
Galega officinalis
Houndstongue
Cynoglossum officinale
Hydrilla
Hydrilla verticillata
Japanese & Giant Knotweed
Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis
Leafy Spurge
Euphorbia esula
Medusahead
Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski
Musk Thistle
Carduus nutans
Oriental Bittersweet
Celastrus orbiculatus
Palmer Amaranth
Amaranthus palmeri
corn yields by 91% and soybean yields by 79%.
Perennial Pepperweed
Lepidium latifolium
Phragmites Common Reed
Phragmites australis
Plumeless Thistle
Carduus acanthoides
Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria, L. virgatum.
Russian Knapweed
Acroptilon repens
Saltcedar
Tamarix ramosissima
Saltlover
Halogeton glomeratus
Sericea Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Spotted & Diffuse Knapweed
Centaurea biebersteinii, Centaurea diffusa
