Invasive & Non-Native Plants in Rhode Island
These non-native plants are among the most commonly recorded spreading in Rhode Island. Many crowd out the plants local wildlife depends on. The good news: there's a native you can plant instead.
Rugosa rose
924 sightingsRosa rugosa · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina rose, Swamp rose, Virginia rose (native Rosa)
Common wormwood
772 sightingsArtemisia vulgaris · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Field sagewort, White sagebrush, Carruth's sagewort (native Artemisia)
Oriental bittersweet
732 sightingsCelastrus orbiculatus · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: American bittersweet (native Celastrus)
Multiflora rose
658 sightingsRosa multiflora · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina rose, Swamp rose, Virginia rose (native Rosa)
Autumn olive
608 sightingsElaeagnus umbellata · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Silverberry (native Elaeagnus)
Common mullein
452 sightingsVerbascum thapsus · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Rhode Island native that fits the same spot.
Queen Anne's lace
438 sightingsDaucus carota · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: American wild carrot (native Daucus)
Japanese barberry
393 sightingsBerberis thunbergii · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Barberry (native Berberis)
Garlic mustard
383 sightingsAlliaria petiolata · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Rhode Island native that fits the same spot.
Red clover
379 sightingsTrifolium pratense · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina clover (native Trifolium)
Common tansy
372 sightingsTanacetum vulgare · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Rhode Island native that fits the same spot.
White clover
345 sightingsTrifolium repens · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina clover (native Trifolium)
Glossy buckthorn
333 sightingsFrangula alnus · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Rhode Island native that fits the same spot.
Climbing nightshade
328 sightingsSolanum dulcamara · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: Carolina horsenettle, American black nightshade (native Solanum)
Ground ivy
312 sightingsGlechoma hederacea · non-native to the U.S.
Plant instead: a Rhode Island native that fits the same spot.