Invasive & Non-Native Plants in North Carolina
These non-native plants are among the most commonly recorded spreading in North Carolina. Many crowd out the plants local wildlife depends on. The good news: there's a native you can plant instead.
White clover
5,861 sightingsTrifolium repens · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Buffalo clover, Carolina clover, Bearded clover (native Trifolium)
Japanese honeysuckle
4,713 sightingsLonicera japonica · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Trumpet honeysuckle, American fly honeysuckle, Limber honeysuckle (native Lonicera)
Multiflora rose
3,575 sightingsRosa multiflora · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Swamp rose, Carolina rose, Climbing rose (native Rosa)
Chinese privet
3,482 sightingsLigustrum sinense · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a North Carolina native that fits the same spot.
Purple deadnettle
3,401 sightingsLamium purpureum · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a North Carolina native that fits the same spot.
Ground ivy
3,303 sightingsGlechoma hederacea · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a North Carolina native that fits the same spot.
Nepalese browntop
2,929 sightingsMicrostegium vimineum · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a North Carolina native that fits the same spot.
Henbit deadnettle
2,889 sightingsLamium amplexicaule · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a North Carolina native that fits the same spot.
Red clover
2,621 sightingsTrifolium pratense · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Buffalo clover, Carolina clover, Bearded clover (native Trifolium)
Sacred bamboo
2,526 sightingsNandina domestica · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a North Carolina native that fits the same spot.
Birdeye speedwell
2,493 sightingsVeronica persica · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Neckweed, Thymeleaf speedwell, Water speedwell (native Veronica)
Sericea lespedeza
2,487 sightingsLespedeza cuneata · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Slender lespedeza, Creeping lespedeza, Hairy lespedeza (native Lespedeza)
Silktree
2,410 sightingsAlbizia julibrissin · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a North Carolina native that fits the same spot.
Garden vetch
2,301 sightingsVicia sativa · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina vetch, American vetch, Florida vetch (native Vicia)
Beale's barberry
2,137 sightingsMahonia bealei · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Hollyleaved barberry, Wavyleaf barberry, Cascade barberry (native Mahonia)