St. John’s Wort
Hypericum perforatum CONTROL Family: Clusiaceae (St. John’s wort). Other Common Names: St. John’s-wort, Klamath weed, goatweed. Origin: Eurasia. Growth Form / Reproduction: Perennial. Seed, rhizomes below ground and creeping stems above ground. Legal Status: Forest and Range Practices Act, Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Invades grazed and disturbed sites. In dense stands, it reduces livestock and […]
Orchardgrass
Dactylis glomerata CONTROL Family: Poaceae (Grass). Other Common Names: Orchard grass, Orchardgrass, Cocksfoot Origin: Europe. Growth Form / Reproduction: Perennial bunchgrass. Seeds. Legal Status: Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Important agronomic plant for hay and pastures.Ecological: Common in Garry Oak ecosystems where it can complete directly with native vegetation. Dense litter produced by this plant also […]
Periwinkle Species
Vinca spp. CONTROL Family: Apocynaceae (Periwinkle). Other Common Names: V. major – Bigleaf periwinkle, big periwinkle; V. minor – Small periwinkle, common periwinkle. Origin: Eurasia. Growth Form / Reproduction: Trailing evergreen perennials. Primarily vegetative reproduction from freely rooting stems and root fragments; can be dispersed by water. Seeds often not viable. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: […]
Himalayan Blackberry
Rubus armeniacus (discolor) CONTROL Family: Rosaceae (Rose). Other Scientific Names: Rubus procerus, R. fruticosa, R. armeniacus. Other Common Names: None. Origin: Asia. Growth Form / Reproduction: Medium to tall evergreen shrub. Seeds and vegetatively from rooting stem tips and sprouts from root buds. Legal Status: Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Can establish on pastures and reduce […]
Hairy Cat’s Ear
Hypochaeris radicata CONTROL Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Other Common Names: Flat weed, false dandelion, common cat’s ear. Origin: Mediterranean. Growth Form / Reproduction: Perennial. Seeds and from crowns and root segments. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Infests pastures reducing productivity. Ingestion of large amounts can result in Australian Stringhalt (lameness) in horses. Can infest legume and seed […]
English Ivy
Hedera helix CONTROL Family: Araliaceae (Ivy). Other Common Names: None. Origin: Eurasia. Growth Form / Reproduction: Evergreen vine/shrub. Seeds dispersed by birds, also vegetatively by cuttings and rooting vines. Legal Status: Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: No information available.Ecological: Dense patches covering the ground shade and smother native plants and may introduce pathogens. The heavy weight […]
English Holly
Ilex aquifolium CONTROL Family: Aquifoliaceae (Holly). Other Common Names: None. Origin: Eurasia. Growth Form / Reproduction: Evergreen shrub or small tree. Seed (berries) dispersed by birds, also spreads by suckering or layering;can re-sprout from stumps. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Grown for Christmas decorations in the florist trade.Ecological: Can form dense thickets in deciduous, […]
Burdock Species
Arctium spp. CONTROL Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Other Scientific Names: Two introduced species in BC: Arctium lappa, A. minus. Other Common Names: Common burdock, great burdock, lesser burdock, wild burdock, bardane, wild rhubarb, beggar’s button. Origin: Eurasia. Growth Form / Reproduction: Biennial. Seeds. Legal Status: Weed Control Act (Regional), Forest and Range Practices Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Intolerant […]
Policeman’s Helmet / Himalayan Balsam
Impatiens glandulifera CONTAIN Family: Balsaminaceae (Balsam or Touch-me-not). Other Scientific Names: Impatiens roylei. Other Common Names: Himalayan balsam, Ornamental jewelweed. Origin: India and the western Himalaya. Growth Form/Reproduction: Annual. Seeds; plants have explosive seed capsules. Legal Status: Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Grazed by cattle and sheep.Ecological: Himalayan balsam dominates vegetation of watercourses because of its […]
Himalayan Knotweed
Polygonum polystachum CONTAIN Family: Polygonaceae (Knotweed). Other Common Names: None. Origin: Himalayas and China. Growth Form / Reproduction: Perennial. Creeping rhizomes and seeds. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Knotweeds are eaten by grazing animals.Ecological: Tall dense stands of knotweeds with their extensive network of rhizomes compete with native vegetation.Human: Knotweeds have been used as landscape ornamentals; […]
Giant Knotweed
Fallopia sachalinensis CONTAIN Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) Other Scientific Names: Polygonum sachalinensis, Reynoutria sachalinensis (F. Schmidt ex Maxim.) Nakai Other Common Names: Sachaline Origin: Asia Growth Form / Reproduction: Perennial. Seeds and vegetatively from rhizomes. Legal Status: Forest and Range Practices Act, Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Knotweeds can provide forage for grazing animals.Ecological: Dense stands can […]
Bohemian Knotweed
Fallopia x bohemica CONTAIN Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) Other Scientific Names: Polygonum x bohemicum Origin: Hybrid offspring of Japanese and Giant Knotweed. Much of what is called Japanese knotweed in North America is believed to be Bohemian Knotweed. Growth Form/Reproduction: Perennial from creeping rhizomes and seeds. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Knotweeds can be consumed by grazing […]
Garden Loosestrife
Lysimachia vulgaris CONTAIN Family: Lythraceae (Loosestrife) Other Common Names: Yellow Loosestrife Origin: Eurasia Legal Status: None Growth Form/Reproduction: Perennial which spreads by seeds and long, underground rhizomes. New shoots emerge in the spring to form dense stands. Plants flower from mid-June until September. Description: Bright yellow flowers are star shaped with five petals. The plant […]
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum CONTAIN Family: Haloragaceae (Water-milfoil). Other Common Names: None. Origin: Eurasia and Africa. Growth Form/Reproduction: Perennial. Seeds but mostly spreads vegetatively from rhizomes and plant fragments. Legal: Community Charters Act. Habitat: Adapted to disturbed lake beds and slow-moving streams with alkaline soils and a high concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon. Lakes, ponds, reservoirs, slow-moving […]
Diffuse Knapweed
Centaurea diffusa CONTAIN Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Other Common Names: Spreading knapweed, tumble knapweed. Origin: Eurasia. Growth Form/Reproduction: Biennial. Seeds. Legal Status: Weed Control Act, Forest and Range Practices Act, Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Reduces forage production for livestock and wildlife. Can infest hay crops, reducing value and productivity.Ecological: A pioneer species that can quickly invade […]
Daphne / Spurge-Laurel
Daphne laureola CONTAIN Family: Thymelaeaceae. Other Common Names: Spurge Laurel, spurgelaurel. Origin: Western Europe and Mediterranean. Growth Form/Reproduction: Evergreen shrub. Seeds and vegetatively from lateral roots. Legal Status: Community Charters Act. Impacts: Agricultural: Information not available. Ecological: Can form dense stands in understory of Douglas-fir forests. Human: Seeds and leaves are very poisonous; sap is an […]
Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii CONTAIN Family: Buddlejaceae (Buddleja) Other Scientific Names: Buddleia davidii Other Common Names: Summer Lilac Origin: China Growth Form/Reproduction: Deciduous shrub with arching branches, growing up to 5m tall. Reproducinve means are by cutting and seed. Each plant is can produce up to 1million seeds, which can persist in the soil for 3-5 years. Legal […]
Wild Chervil
Anthriscus sylvestris ERADICATE Family: Apiaceae (Carrot). Other Common Names: Cow parsley. Origin: Europe. Growth Form/Reproduction: Biennial or short-lived perennial. Seed, or root buds at the root crown. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Invades pastures and hayfields reducing forage available for grazing animals; causes molding in hay crops. Can be a host for a virus that attacks […]
Milk Thistle
Silybum marianum ERADICATE Family: Asteraceae Other Common Names: Blessed milkthistle, spotted thistle, variegated thistle Origin: Mediterranean region. Growth Form/Reproduction: Biennial to short-lived perennial; seeds. Legal Status: None. Impacts: Agricultural: Infests pastures and rangelands. Can cause nitrate poisoning in sheep and cattle Ecological: Aggressive plant can replace native vegetation and reduce wildlife habitat. Human: […]
Jimsonweed / Devil’s Apple
Datura stramonium ERADICATE Family: Solanaceae (Potato). Other Common Names: Devil’s Apple, thorn apple, mad apple, stinkweed, angel’s trumpet. Origin: Uncertain. Growth Form/Reproduction: Annual/ seeds. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Poisonous to grazing animals if ingested. Can infest cultivated crops.Ecological: No information available. Seeds of Jimsonweed are spread by birds.Human: Highly poisonous plant; all parts are toxic. […]
Giant Mannagrass
Glyceria maxima ERADICATE Family: Poaceae (Grass). Other Common Names: Reed mannagrass, reed sweetgrass. Origin: Europe and temperate Asia. Growth Form/Reproduction: Rhizomatous perennial grass. Seeds and rhizomes. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Introduced as forage for grazing animals on seasonally inundated pasture. Cyanide poisoning of cattle can occur when animals graze young shoots. Dense stands can create […]
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata ERADICATE Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard). Other Common Names: Garlic root. Origin: Europe. Growth Form/Reproduction: Biennial/ Seeds Legal Status: Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: No information available.Ecological: Invades and dominates understory of forested areas.Human: Culinary and medicinal herb. No information on negative effects. Habitat: Prefers shade and moist, rich soil but tolerates full sun and a […]
Cordgrass, Salt meadow
Spartina patens ERADICATE Family: Poaceae (Grass). Other Common Names: Salt meadowgrass, saltmeadow cordgrass. Origin: Atlantic Coast of North America. Growth Form/Reproduction: Perennial grass. Seeds, rhizomes and vegetative fragmentation. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: None known.Ecological: Can forms dense monocultures and has the potential to displace native vegetation in coastal salt marshes.Human: Information not available. Habitat: Open […]
Cordgrass, Dense-Flowered
Spartina densiflora ERADICATE Family: Poaceae (Grass). Other Common Names: None. Origin: Coastal South America. Growth Form/Reproduction: Perennial bunchgrass. Seed. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Not a problem on agricultural lands.Ecological: Competes with native flora of upper tidal marshes reducing habitat for wildlife. Invasion of mudflats and channel edges of marshes eliminates foraging habitats for waterfowl.Human: Information […]
Cordgrass, English
ERADICATE Spartina anglica Family: Poaceae (Grass). Other Common Names: None. Origin: Hybrid of S. maritima (England) and S. alterniflora (E. North America). Growth Form/Reproduction: Rhizomatous perennial. Seed, rhizomes and vegetative fragments. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Not a problem on agricultural lands.Ecological: Colonizing plant that potential can displace native plants of coastal salt marshes. Colonizes open, […]
Bur Chervil
CONTROL Anthriscus caucalis Family: Apiaceae (Carrot) Other Common Names: Bur parsley, burr chervil, bur-chervil Origin: Europe. Growth Form/Reproduction: Annual. Spiny seeds Legal Status: BC Regulated Noxious Weed. Impacts:Agricultural: Information not available.Ecological: Can form dense stands competing with native vegetation.Human: Information not available Habitat: Adapted to shaded sites and poor, sandy soils. Moist fields, ditches, disturbed […]
Yellow Starthistle
PREVENT Centaurea solstitalis Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Other Common Names: St. Barnaby’s thistle, yellow cockspur. Origin: Europe. Growth Form/Reproduction: Winter annual. Seed. Legal Status Central Kootenay: Weed Control Act, Forest and Range Practices Act, Community Charters Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Infestations can reduce forage quality and forage availability in pastures and in hay. Prolonged grazing by horses can […]
Russian Knapweed
PREVENT Acroptilon repens Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Other Scientific Names: Centaurea repens. Other Common Names: Turkestan thistle, mountain bluet, creeping knapweed. Origin: Eurasia. Growth Form/Reproduction: Perennial. Vegetatively from rhizomes; seeds. Legal Status: Weed Control Act, Forest and Range Practices Act. Impacts:Agricultural: Can infest cultivated fields, grain and alfalfa crops and pastures. Toxic to horses.Ecological: Russian knapweed […]
Kudzu
PREVENT Pueraria montana Family: Fabaceae (Pea). Other Common Names: Foot-a-night vine, Ko-hemp. Origin: Eastern Asia. Growth Form/Reproduction: Climbing, trailing deciduous woody vine. Spreads primarily by rooting at stem nodes, seeds occasionally produced. Legal Status: Community Charters Act. Impacts: Agricultural: Threat to timber and agricultural crops. Provides forage for grazing animals.Ecological: Invaders semi-natural and natural habitat […]
Giant Reed
Arundo donax PREVENT Family: Poaceae (Grass). Other Common Names: Spanish reed, Giant Cane, elephant grass. Origin: Mediterranean. Growth Form/Reproduction: Perennial grass. Rarely by seed. Vegetatively from rhizomes, vegetative fragments, or rooting along prostrate stems. Legal Status: None. Impacts:Agricultural: Interferes with drainage; can cause flooding.Ecological: Colonies can spread over large areas in riparian habitats, where they […]
Common Reed
Phragmites australis PREVENT Family: Poaceae. Other Common Names: None. Origin: Two subspecies occur in BC; Phragmites australis ssp. americanus is native and P. australis ssp. australis is introduced from Eastern North America. Growth Form/Reproduction: Seed, rhizomes and vegetative fragments. Legal Status: None. Impacts: Agricultural: Too coarse for grazing. Potential to invade moist soils and around ponds […]
Common Crupina
Prevent Crupina vulgaris Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower) Identification General characteristics: Winter annual that can grow to 1m/3 ft tall. Germinates in fall/winter and grow upright in spring/summer Stiff stem with small spines Leaves: First leaves round and shiny leaves are lobed or double-lobed and alternate Older leaves can be prickly Flowers: small pink-purple flowers in clusters […]
Yellow Flag Iris
Yellow Flag Iris CONTAIN Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) is a beautiful garden ornamental but it is also an aggressive invader. When these plants are introduced into natural habitats, such as ponds, marshes and other wetlands, they can form dense thickets and displace native species. Infestations can impact amphibians, birds, and other wetland creatures. […]
Tansy Ragwort
CIPC – Priority Invasive Plants There are a number of invasive plant species in Coastal BC.Download our most recent priority list here (PDF – 38KB) Tansy Ragwort Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobeae) is a poisonous plant that was likely introduced to North America as a medicinal herb. It has since invaded pastures, woodlands and waste areas […]
Scotch Thistle
ERADICATE Onopordum acanthium Scotch thistle is an impressive garden ornamental that can grow up to three meters tall! However, the ability of one plant to produce thousands of seeds that can remain viable in the soil for over 30 years makes it an aggressive opponent to even the greenest of thumbs. Scotch thistle is highly […]
Scotch Broom
CONTROL Family: Fabaceae Other Common Names: Scot’s Broom, Broom Origin: British Isles and Central and Southern Europe. Was brought to BC from Scotland in the 1850s as a garden ornamental by Captain Walter Grant who first planted it in Sooke. Description: This woody perennial shrub grows to 3 meters in height and can be identified by […]
Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
Orange and Yellow Hawkweed
Hieracium aurantiacum, Hieracium pratense CONTAIN Orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) is a beautiful orange flowering plant that often appears along roadsides, in gardens and lawns. Orange hawkweed is easy to identify with a single stem covered in black hairs and a rosette of leaves at the base of the plant. It is often introduced through wild […]
Spotted Knapweed
Centaurea maculosa CONTROL Spotted Knapweed can be identified by its light pink solitary flowers growing out of stiff black-tipped (spotted) bracts. The plant grows from a basal rosette in the first year to amost 2 m tall in the seconf. The leaves are deeply lobed and the plant is based on a stout […]
Japanese Knotweed
Fallopia japonica CONTAIN Japanese knotweed is a tall shrub with bamboo-like stems. It has been planted throughout South and Central Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands as a garden ornamental but quickly spreads to form dense thickets in a variety of habitats, including dry roadsides and moist stream banks. Small patches can quickly spread into […]
Gorse
Ulex europaeus CONTAIN Family: Fabaceae Other Common Names: common gorse, furze or whin Origin: Native to portions of Europe from the northern United Kingdom south to Galicia in Spain and Portugal, and from the western Republic of Ireland east to Galicja in Poland and Ukraine. Description: Perennial species that can live up to 45 years. […]
Giant Hogweed
Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum ERADICATE Giant hogweed is an aggressive invader that was first introduced to North America as a garden ornamental. It closely resembles our native plant cow parsnip, except the taller giant hogweed can grow up to 6-metres or more; while cow parsnip grows to no more than 2-meters. * If you […]
Dalmatian Toadflax
Dalmatian Toadflax Linaria dalmatica CONTROL Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria genistifolia spp. dalmatica) is an aggressive invader in the interior of BC and a growing concern on Vancouver Island and surrounding Coastal communities. It was brought to North America as an ornamental species in the late 1800s and has since infested thousands of hectares in BC. Its […]
Common Tansy
Common Tansy Tanacetum vulgare CONTROL Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a non-native plant that can displace native flora and be toxic to livestock and humans if eaten in large quantities. This aromatic plant, with button-shaped yellow flowers and coarse, fern-like leaves was introduced from Europe as a medicinal herb and insect repellent. It can now […]
Carpet Burweed
Carpet Burweed Soliva sessilis CONTAIN Carpet burweed (Soliva sessilis) is an invasive broadleaf winter annual that threatens open areas in parks, golf courses and RV parks. It forms a ‘carpet’ in the turf, spreads easily and is difficult to identify. Carpet burweed is a low-growing plant, measuring up to 3-5 cm in diameter and 7 […]
Canada Thistle
Cirsium arvense CONTROL Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is an aggressive invader in crops, pastures, rangelands, roadsides and river banks. It spreads quickly vegetatively and by wind-borne seeds. Each plant can produce 1500 seeds. Canada thistle can be identified by its prickly leaves that are similar to holly. It can be distinguished from other thistles because […]
