Invasive & Non-Native Plants in Massachusetts
These non-native plants are among the most commonly recorded spreading in Massachusetts. Many crowd out the plants local wildlife depends on. The good news: there's a native you can plant instead.
Garlic mustard
7,803 sightingsAlliaria petiolata · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Massachusetts native that fits the same spot.
Oriental bittersweet
6,798 sightingsCelastrus orbiculatus · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: American bittersweet (native Celastrus)
Glossy buckthorn
5,562 sightingsFrangula alnus · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina buckthorn (native Frangula)
Multiflora rose
5,318 sightingsRosa multiflora · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina rose, Swamp rose, Shining rose (native Rosa)
Common wormwood
4,983 sightingsArtemisia vulgaris · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Field sagewort, White sagebrush, Biennial wormwood (native Artemisia)
Common mullein
4,381 sightingsVerbascum thapsus · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Massachusetts native that fits the same spot.
Climbing nightshade
4,011 sightingsSolanum dulcamara · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina horsenettle, American black nightshade, Watermelon nightshade (native Solanum)
Ground ivy
3,960 sightingsGlechoma hederacea · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Massachusetts native that fits the same spot.
Queen Anne's lace
3,899 sightingsDaucus carota · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Massachusetts native that fits the same spot.
Purple loosestrife
3,815 sightingsLythrum salicaria · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Winged lythrum, Wand lythrum (native Lythrum)
Japanese barberry
3,428 sightingsBerberis thunbergii · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Barberry, American barberry, Colorado barberry (native Berberis)
Celandine
3,351 sightingsChelidonium majus · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Massachusetts native that fits the same spot.
Burningbush
3,326 sightingsEuonymus alatus · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Burningbush, Running strawberry bush, Bursting-heart (native Euonymus)
Red clover
3,113 sightingsTrifolium pratense · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina clover, Foothill clover, Branched Indian clover (native Trifolium)
Autumn olive
3,038 sightingsElaeagnus umbellata · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Silverberry (native Elaeagnus)