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Weeds in natural areas
These weed reports are from the Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States book. To purchase a copy of the book, visit the UC ANR catalog (https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=3547) and search for Publication 3547.
- List by COMMON NAME (alphabetically)
- List by SCIENTIFIC NAME (alphabetically)
To search through the list, use "Ctrl F" (FIND function.)
COMMON NAME | Scientific name | Family |
Absinth wormwood | Artemisia absinthium | Asteraceae |
African mustard | Malcolmia africana | Brassicaceae |
African rue | Peganum harmala | Zygophyllaceae |
Algerian ivy | Hedera canariensis | Araliaceae |
Alligatorweed | Alternanthera philoxeroides | Amaranthaceae |
Amaranths | Amaranthus spp. | Amaranthaceae |
American pondweed | Potamogeton nodosus | Potamogetonaceae |
Annual bursage | Ambrosia acanthicarpa | Asteraceae |
Annual false-brome | Brachypodium distachyon | |
Artichoke thistle | Cynara cardunculus | Asteraceae |
Atlantic ivy | Hedera hibernica | Araliaceae |
Australian saltbush | Atriplex semibaccata | Chenopodiaceae |
Baby’s-breath | Gypsophila paniculata | Caryophyllaceae |
Barb goatgrass | · Aegilops triuncialis · UC ANR Publ 8315 |
Poaceae |
Barbwire Russian-thistle | Salsola paulsenii | Chenopodiaceae |
Bermuda buttercup | Oxalis pes-caprae | Oxalidaceae |
Bermudagrass | Cynodon dactylon | Poaceae |
Big periwinkle | Vinca major | Apocynaceae |
Big quakinggrass | Briza maxima | Poaceae |
Birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | Fabaceae |
Birdsrape mustard | Brassica rapa | Brassicaceae |
Black acacia | Acacia melanoxylon | Fabaceae |
Black henbane | Hyoscyamus niger | Solanaceae |
Black locust | Robinia pseudoacacia | Fabaceae |
Black mustard | Brassica nigra | Brassicaceae |
Blessed milkthistle | Silybum marianum | Asteraceae |
Blue mustard | Chorispora tenella | Brassicaceae |
Blueweed | Echium vulgare | Boraginaceae |
Bohemian knotweed | Polygonum x bohemicum | Polygonaceae |
Bouncingbet | Saponaria officinalis | Caryophyllaceae |
Brassbuttons | Cotula coronopifolia | Asteraceae |
Brazilian egeria | Egeria densa | Hydrocharitaceae |
Bridal creeper | Asparagus asparagoides | Liliaceae |
Bristly oxtongue | Picris echioides | Asteraceae |
Broadleaf dock | Rumex obtusifolius | Polygonaceae |
Broadleaf forget-me-not | Myosotis latifolia | Boraginaceae |
Buckhorn plantain | Plantago lanceolata | Plantaginaceae |
Buffelgrass | Pennisetum ciliare | Poaceae |
Bulbous bluegrass | Poa bulbosa | Poaceae |
Bull thistle | Cirsium vulgare | Asteraceae |
Bur buttercup | Ceratocephala testiculata | Ranunculaceae |
Bur buttercup | Ranunculus testiculatus | Ranunculaceae |
Bur chervil | Anthriscus caucalis | Apiaceae |
Burnweeds | Erechtites spp. | Asteraceae |
Buttercup oxalis | Oxalis pes-caprae | Oxalidaceae |
Butterflybush | Buddleja davidii | Buddlejaceae |
California burclover | Medicago polymorpha | Fabaceae |
Calla lily | Zantedeschia aethiopica | Araceae |
Camelthorn | Alhagi pseudalhagi | Fabaceae |
Canada thistle | Cirsium arvense | Asteraceae |
Canary Island date palm | Phoenix canariensis | Arecaceae |
Canary Island hypericum | Hypericum canariensis | Clusiaceae or Hypericaceae |
Cape-ivy | Delairea odorata | Asteraceae |
Capeweed | Arctotheca calendula | Asteraceae |
Carnation spurge | Euphorbia terracina | Euphorbiaceae |
Castorbean | Ricinus communis | Euphorbiaceae |
Catalpa | Catalpa bignonioides | Bignoniaceae |
Cattails | Typha spp. | Typhaceae |
Chara | Chara spp. | Characeae |
Cheatgrass | Bromus tectorum | Poaceae |
Cherry plum | Prunus cerasifera | Rosaceae |
Chicory | Cichorium intybus | Asteraceae |
Chinese tallowtree | Sapium sebiferum | Euphorbiaceae |
Clasping pepperweed | Lepidium perfoliatum | Brassicaceae |
Coast fiddleneck | Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia | Boraginaceae |
Common caraway | Carum carvi | Apiaceae |
Common catsear | Hypochaeris radicata | Asteraceae |
Common cocklebur | Xanthium strumarium | Asteraceae |
Common crupina | Crupina vulgaris | Asteraceae |
Common elodea | Elodea canadensis | Hydrocharitaceae |
Common lambsquarter | Chenopodium album | Chenopodiaceae |
Common mallow | Malva neglecta | Malvaceae |
Common mullein | Verbascum thapsus | Scrophulariaceae |
Common pokeweed | Phytolacca americana | Phytolaccaceae |
Common ragweed | Ambrosia artemisiifolia | Asteraceae |
Common reed | Phragmites australis | Poaceae |
Common rye | Secale cereale | Poaceae |
Common St. Johnswort | Hypericum perforatum | Clusiaceae or Hypericaceae |
Common sunflower | Helianthus annuus | Asteraceae |
Common tansy | Tanacetum vulgare | Asteraceae |
Common teasel | Dipsacus fullonum | Dipsacaceae |
Common velvetgrass | Holcus lanatus | Poaceae |
Coontail | Ceratophyllum demersum | Ceratophyllaceae |
Cordgrasses | Spartinaspp. | Poaceae |
Cotoneasters | Cotoneaster spp. | Rosaceae |
Creeping bentgrass | Agrostis stolonifera | Poaceae |
Creeping buttercup | Ranunculus repens | Ranunculaceae |
Crimson fountaingrass | Pennisetum setaceum | Poaceae |
Crocosmia | Crocosmia x crocosmiflora | Iridaceae |
Croftonweed | Ageratina adenophora | Asteraceae |
Crowndaisy | Chrysanthemum coronarium | Asteraceae |
Curly dock | Rumex crispus | Polygonaceae |
Curlyleaf pondweed | Potamogeton crispus | Potamogetonaceae |
Cutleaf geranium | Geranium dissectum | Geraniaceae |
Cutleaf teasel | Dipsacus laciniatus | Dipsacaceae |
Dallisgrass | Paspalum dilatatum | Poaceae |
Dalmatian toadflax | Linaria dalmatica | Scrophulariaceae |
Damesrocket | Hesperis matronalis | Brassicaceae |
Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale | Asteraceae |
Deathcamas | Zigadenus spp. | Liliaceae |
Diffuse knapweed | Centaurea diffusa | Asteraceae |
Dog rose | Rosa canina | Rosaceae |
Downy brome | Bromus tectorum | Poaceae |
Duckmeats | Spirodela spp. | Lemnaceae |
Duckweeds | Lemna spp. or Spirodela spp. | Lemnaceae |
Dyer’s woad | Isatis tinctoria | Brassicaceae |
English hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | Rosaceae |
English holly | Ilex aquifolium | Aquifoliaceae |
English ivy | Hedera helix | Araliaceae |
Eurasian watermilfoil | Myriophyllum spicatum | Haloragaceae |
European beachgrass | Ammophila arenaria | Poaceae |
Everlasting peavine | Lathyrus latifolius | Fabaceae |
Fanwort | Cabomba caroliniana | Cabombaceae |
Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | Apiaceae |
Field bindweed | Convolvulus arvensis | Convolvulaceae |
Field pennycress | Thlaspi arvense | Brassicaceae |
Fig | Ficus carica | Moraceae |
Firethorn | Pyracantha spp. | Rosaceae |
Fitch’s tarweed | Hemizonia fitchii | Asteraceae |
Fivehook bassia | Bassia hyssopifolia | Chenopodiaceae |
Flixweed | Descurainia sophia | Brassicaceae |
Floating pennywort | Hydrocotyle ranunculoides | Apiaceae |
Floatingleaf pondweed | Potamogeton natans | Potamogetonaceae |
Flowering rush | Butomus umbellatus | Butomaceae |
Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea | Scrophulariaceae |
Foxtail barley | Hordeum jubatum | Poaceae |
Foxtails | Setaria spp. | Poaceae |
Fragrant waterlily | Nymphaea odorata | Nymphaeaceae |
French broom | Genista monspessulana | Fabaceae |
Fuller’s teasel | Dipsacus sativus | Dipsacaceae |
Garden loosestrife | Lysimachia vulgaris | Primulaceae |
Garlic mustard | Alliaria petiolata | Brassicaceae |
Giant dodder | Cuscuta japonica | Cuscutaceae |
Giant hogweed | Heracleum mantegazzianum | Apiaceae |
Giant knotweed | Polygonum sachalinense | Polygonaceae |
Giant reed | Arundo donax | Poaceae |
Giant salvinia | Salvinia molesta | Salviniaceae |
Glossy privet | Ligustrum lucidum | Oleaceae |
Goatsrue | Galega officinalis | Fabaceae |
Gorse | Ulex europaeus | Fabaceae |
Greasewood | Sarcobatus vermiculatus | Chenopodiaceae |
Hairy fleabane | Conyza bonariensis | Asteraceae |
Hairy whitetop | Cardaria pubescens | Brassicaceae |
Halogeton | Halogeton glomeratus | Chenopodiaceae |
Hardinggrass | Phalaris aquatica | Poaceae |
Hardstem bulrush | Scirpus acutus | Cyperaceae |
Hardstem tule | Scirpus acutus | Cyperaceae |
Hare barley | Hordeum murinum | Poaceae |
Harmal rue | Peganum harmala | Zygophyllaceae |
Hawkweeds | Hieracium spp. | Asteraceae |
Hedgehog dogtailgrass | Cynosurus echinatus | Poaceae |
Hedgeparsley | Torilis arvensis | Apiaceae |
Henbit | Lamium amplexicaule | Lamiaceae |
Herb-robert | Geranium robertianum | Geraniaceae |
Himalaya blackberry | Rubus armeniacus | Rosaceae |
Himalayan knotweed | Polygonum polystachyum | Polygonaceae |
Hoary alyssum | Berteroa incana | Brassicaceae |
Hoary cress | Cardaria draba | Brassicaceae |
Horned pondweed | Zannichellia palustris | Zannichelliaceae |
Horsetails | Equisetum spp. | Equisetaceae |
Horseweed | Conyza canadensis | Asteraceae |
Hottentot fig | Carpobrotus edulis | Aizoaceae |
Houndstongue | Cynoglossum officinale | Boraginaceae |
Hydrilla | Hydrilla verticillata | Hydrocharitaceae |
Hyssop loosestrife | Lythrum hyssopifolium | Lythraceae |
Iberian starthistle | Centaurea iberica | Asteraceae |
Iceplant | Carpobrotus edulis | Aizoaceae |
Illinois pondweed | Potamogeton illinoensis | Potamogetonaceae |
Indigobush | Amorpha fruticosa | Fabaceae |
Irish ivy | Hedera hibernica | Araliaceae |
Italian ryegrass | Lolium multiflorum | Poaceae |
Italian thistle | Carduus pycnocephalus | Asteraceae |
Japanese brome | Bromus japonicus | Poaceae |
Japanese dodder | Cuscuta japonica | Cuscutaceae |
Japanese knotweed | Polygonum cuspidatum | Polygonaceae |
Johnsongrass | Sorghum halepense | Poaceae |
Jointed goatgrass |
· Aegilops cylindrica · integrated management |
Poaceae |
Jubatagrass |
· Cortaderia jubata · brochure · woody weed invaders |
Poaceae |
Kentucky bluegrass | Poa pratensis | Poaceae |
Kikuyugrass | Pennisetum clandestinum | Poaceae |
Klamathweed | Hypericum perforatum | Clusiaceae or Hypericaceae |
Kochia | Bassia scoparia | Chenopodiaceae |
Ladysthumb | Polygonum persicaria | Polygonaceae |
Leafy pondweed | Potamogeton foliosus | Potamogetonaceae |
Leafy spurge |
· Euphorbia esula · biological control |
Euphorbiaceae |
Lens-podded whitetop | Cardaria chalepensis | Brassicaceae |
Little robin | Geranium purpureum | Geraniaceae |
London rocket | Sisymbrium irio | Brassicaceae |
Lovegrasses | Eragrostis spp. | Poaceae |
Lupines | Lupinus spp. | Fabaceae |
Malta starthistle | Centaurea melitensis | Asteraceae |
Meadow knapweed | Centaurea debeauxii | Asteraceae |
Mediterranean barley | Hordeum marinum | Poaceae |
Mediterranean sage | Salvia aethiopis | Lamiaceae |
Mediterranean steppegrass | Stipa capensis | Poaceae |
Mediterraneangrasses | Schismus spp. | Poaceae |
Medusahead | · Taeniatherum caput-medusae · management guide · state of the weed handout · state of the weed presentation |
Poaceae |
Menzies fiddleneck | Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii | Boraginaceae |
Mexican fan palm | Washingtonia robusta | Arecaceae |
Mexican whorled milkweed | Asclepias fascicularis | Asclepiadaceae |
Montbretia | Crocosmiax crocosmiflora | Iridaceae |
Mosquitoferns | Azolla spp. | Azollaceae |
Moth mullein | Verbascum blattaria | Scrophulariaceae |
Multiflora rose | Rosa multiflora | Rosaceae |
Musk thistle | Carduus nutans | Asteraceae |
Myoporum | Myoporum laetum | Myoporaceae |
Naiads | Najas spp. | Hydrocharitaceae or Najadaceae |
Netseed lambsquarter | Chenopodium berlandieri | Chenopodiaceae |
Nitella | Nitella spp. | Characeae |
North African wiregrass | Ventenata dubia | Poaceae |
Oblong spurge | Euphorbia oblongata | Euphorbiaceae |
Old-man’s-beard | Clematis vitalba | Ranunculaceae |
Olive | Olea europaea | Oleaceae |
Onionweed | Asphodelus fistulosus | Liliaceae |
Orchardgrass | Dactylis glomerata | Poaceae |
Oxeye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | Asteraceae |
Oxygenweed | Lagarosiphon major | Hydrocharitaceae |
Pacific bentgrass | Agrostis avenacea | Poaceae |
Pacific poison-oak |
· Toxicodendron diversilobum · Pest Notes |
Anacardiaceae |
Pale smartweed | Polygonum lapathifolium | Polygonaceae |
Pampasgrass |
· Cortaderia selloana · brochure · invasive plants · woody weed invaders |
Poaceae |
Parrotfeather | Myriophyllum aquaticum | Haloragaceae |
Parry’s tarweed | Hemizonia parryi | Asteraceae |
Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium | Lamiaceae |
Peppertrees | Schinus spp. | Anacardiaceae |
Perennial pepperweed |
Lepidium latifolium · biology, ecology and control · brochure · Pest Notes |
Brassicaceae |
Perennial ryegrass | Lolium perenne | Poaceae |
Pigweeds | Amaranthus spp. | Amaranthaceae |
Plumeless thistle | Carduus acanthoides | Asteraceae |
Poison-hemlock | Conium maculatum | Apiaceae |
Povertyweed | Iva axillaris | Asteraceae |
Prickly lettuce | Lactuca serriola | Asteraceae |
Prostrate knotweed | Polygonum arenastrum | Polygonaceae |
Puncturevine | Tribulus terrestris | Zygophyllaceae |
Purple loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria | Lythraceae |
Purple starthistle | Centaurea calcitrapa | Asteraceae |
Pyracantha | Pyracantha spp. | Rosaceae |
Quackgrass | Elytrigia repens | Poaceae |
Rabbitbrush | Chrysothamnus nauseosus | Asteraceae |
Rabbitfoot polypogon | Polypogon monspeliensis | Poaceae |
Radish | Raphanus sativus | Brassicaceae |
Rattail fescue | Vulpia myuros | Poaceae |
Ravennagrass | Tripidium ravennae | Poaceae |
Red brome | Bromus madritensis spp. rubens | Poaceae |
Red sesbania | Sesbania punicea | Fabaceae |
Red sorrel | Rumex acetosella | Polygonaceae |
Redstem filaree | Erodium cicutarium | Geraniaceae |
Reed canarygrass | Phalaris arundinacea | Poaceae |
Ripgut brome | Bromus diandrus | Poaceae |
Rose clover | Trifolium hirtum | Fabaceae |
Rush skeletonweed | Chondrilla juncea | Asteraceae |
Russian knapweed | Acroptilon repens | Asteraceae |
Russian-olive | Elaeagnus angustifolia | Elaeagnaceae |
Russian-thistle |
· Salsola tragus · Pest Notes |
Chenopodiaceae |
Sagebrush | Artemisia tridentata | Asteraceae |
Sago pondweed | Stuckenia pectinata | Potamogetonaceae |
Saharan mustard | Brassica tournefortii | Brassicaceae |
Sakhalin knotweed | Polygonum sachalinense | Polygonaceae |
Saltcedar |
· Tamarix spp. · brochure · invasive plants |
Tamaricaceae |
Sandburs | Cenchrus spp. | Poaceae |
Scotch broom | Cytisus scoparius | Fabaceae |
Scotch thistle | Onopordum acanthium | Asteraceae |
Scouringrushes | Equisetum spp. | Equisetaceae |
Sea rocket | Cakile maritima | Brassicaceae |
Seashore vervain | Verbena litoralis | Verbenaceae |
Sheep sorrel | Rumex acetosella | Polygonaceae |
Shepherd’s-purse | Capsella bursa-pastoris | Brassicaceae |
Shortpod mustard | Hirschfeldia incana | Brassicaceae |
Showy milkweed | Asclepias speciosa | Asclepiadaceae |
Siberian elm | Ulmus pumila | Ulmaceae |
Silverleaf nightshade | Solanum elaeagnifolium | Solanaceae |
Slender false-brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | Poaceae |
Slender oat | Avena barbata | Poaceae |
Slenderflower thistle | Carduus tenuiflorus | Asteraceae |
Smilograss | Piptatherum miliaceum | Poaceae |
Smooth brome | Bromus inermis | Poaceae |
Smooth catsear | Hypochaeris glabra | Asteraceae |
Smooth frogbit | Limnobium laevigatum | Hydrocharitaceae |
Smutgrass |
· Sporobolus indicus · managing smutgrass in irrigated pastures |
Poaceae |
Soft brome | Bromus hordeaceus | Poaceae |
Soft chess | Bromus hordeaceus | Poaceae |
Soft rush | Juncus effusus | Juncaceae |
South American spongeplant | Limnobium laevigatum | Hydrocharitaceae |
Southern brassbuttons | Cotula australis | Asteraceae |
Spanish broom | Spartium junceum | Fabaceae |
Spikeweed | Hemizonia pungens | Asteraceae |
Spiny cocklebur | Xanthium spinosum | Asteraceae |
Spiny emex | Emex spinosa | Polygonaceae |
Spotted knapweed | Centaurea stoebe | Asteraceae |
Spreading rush | Juncus patens | Juncaceae |
Squarrose knapweed | Centaurea virgata spp. squarrosa | Asteraceae |
Stinging nettle | Urtica dioica | Urticaceae |
Stinkgrasses | Eragrostis spp. | Poaceae |
Stinkwort | Dittrichia graveolens | Asteraceae |
Sulfur cinquefoil | Potentilla recta | Rosaceae |
Swainsonpea | Sphaerophysa salsula | Fabaceae |
Sweet alyssum | Lobularia maritima | Brassicaceae |
Sweet resinbush | Euryops multifidus | Asteraceae |
Sweet vernalgrass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | Poaceae |
Sweetbriar rose | Rosa eglanteria | Rosaceae |
Syrian beancaper | Zygophyllum fabago | Zygophyllaceae |
Tall buttercup | Ranunculus acris | Ranunculaceae |
Tall fescue | Festuca arundinacea | Poaceae |
Tall vervain | Verbena bonariensis | Verbenaceae |
Tall whitetop | Lepidium latifolium | Brassicaceae |
Tamarisk |
· Tamarix spp. · brochure · invasive plants |
Tamaricaceae |
Tansy ragwort | Senecio jacobaea | Asteraceae |
Tansymustard | Descurainia sophia | Brassicaceae |
Tasmanian blue gum | Eucalyptus globulus | Myrtaceae |
Tocalote | Centaurea melitensis | Asteraceae |
Tree tobacco | Nicotiana glauca | Solanaceae |
Tree-of-heaven | Ailanthus altissima | Simaroubaceae |
Tumble mustard | Sisymbrium altissimum | Brassicaceae |
Tumbleweed | Salsola tragus | Chenopodiaceae |
Veldtgrasses | Ehrharta spp. | Poaceae |
Victorian box | Pittosporum undulatum | Pittosporaceae |
Vinegarweed | Trichostema lanceolatum | Lamiaceae |
Vipers bugloss | Echium plantagineum | Boraginaceae |
Vipers bugloss | Echium vulgare | Boraginaceae |
Virgate tarweed | Holocarpha virgata | Asteraceae |
Wand loosestrife | Lythrum virgatum | Lythraceae |
Water chestnut | Trapa natans | Trapaceae |
Water hyacinth | Eichhornia crassipes | Pontederiaceae |
Water speedwell | Veronica anagallis-aquatica | Scrophulariaceae |
Watermeals | Wolffia spp. | Lemnaceae |
Waterprimroses | Ludwigia spp. | Onagraceae |
Watershield | Brasenia schreberi | Cabombaceae |
Watsonia | Watsonia meriana | Iridaceae |
Waxy mannagrass | Glyceria declinata | Poaceae |
White bryony | Bryonia alba | Cucurbitaceae |
White horehound | Marrubium vulgare | Lamiaceae |
White sweetclover | Melilotus albus | Fabaceae |
Whitetop | Cardaria draba | Brassicaceae |
Widgeongrass | Ruppia maritima | Potamogetonaceae or Ruppiaceae |
Wild buckwheat | Polygonum convolvulus | Polygonaceae |
Wild carrot | Daucus carota | Apiaceae |
Wild chervil | Anthriscus sylvestris | Apiaceae |
Wild four-o’clock | Mirabilis nyctaginea | Nyctaginaceae |
Wild mustard | Sinapis arvensis | Brassicaceae |
Wild oat | Avena fatua | Poaceae |
Wild radish | Raphanus raphanistrum | Brassicaceae |
Willows | Salix spp. | Salicaceae |
Woolly distaff thistle | Carthamus lanatus | Asteraceae |
Yellow floatingheart | Nymphoides peltata | Nymphaeaceae |
Yellow pondlily | Nuphar lutea | Nymphaeaceae |
Yellow starthistle |
· Centaurea solstitialis · management guide · Pest Notes |
Asteraceae |
Yellow toadflax | Linaria vulgaris | Scrophulariaceae |
Yellowflag iris | Iris pseudacorus | Iridaceae |
Yellowtuft | Alyssum alyssoides | Brassicaceae |