Invasive, Noxious and Alien Species of British Columbia – 2009
by
Tanya Perzoff

The following list of  invasive, alien, and noxious species for British Columbia is a compilation of information from a variety of "official' provincial sources, including the BC Ministry of Forests, the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and others. It also includes additional species that we have added  that are considered invasive in BC based on input from individuals and groups such as the Greater Vancouver Invasive Species Council.  The list does not include native species,.  Note, though, that some species, such as Phalaris arundinaceae, have mixed origin, so may be included here.

Please contact us if you know of other plant species that should be included in this list.

Note: for the Meidinger et al. records the following codes were used:

· I: invasive/nuisance species that are not currently legislated as noxious weeds; based on Cranston et al. (1999)

· R: species indicated as noxious weeds within some regions of B.C. as indicated in the B.C. Weed Control Act (1999)

· P: species considered noxious weeds in all regions of B.C. as indicated in the B.C. Weed Control Act (1999)

Latin Name	Common Name	Source	Type	Where
Abutilon theophrasti	velvetleaf	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	B
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Acer platanoides	Norway maple	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Acinos arvensis	mother-of-thyme	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Acroptilon repens	Russian knapweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	North Okanagan
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Aegopodium podagraria	Goutweed	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Agropyron pectiniforme	Crested wheatgrass	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North AmericEly
Elymus repens	quackgrass	M. of Agriclture and Lands	Noxious	Peace River
Alliaria petiolata	Garlic mustard	CWS	Principal Upland Invasive	North America
Amaranthus retroflexus	Redroot pigweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
	Rough pigweed	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Ambrosia artemisiifolia	Ragweed	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Ammophila arenaria	European beachgrass		Invasive
Ammophila breviligulata	American beachgrass		Invasive
Anchusa officinalis	Common bugloss	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Kootenay-Boundary
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Anthriscus sylvestris	Wild chervil	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Fraser Valley
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	B
Arctium lappa	burdock	M. of Agriculture and Lands		BC
	breat burdock	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Arctium minus	Common burdock	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Artemisia absinthium	absinth	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Avena fatua	Wild oats	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Barbarea vulgaris	Winter cress	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Berberis thunbergii	Japanese barberry	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Berteroa incana	Hoary alyssum	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Kootenay-Boundary
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Betula pendula	European birch	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
			Minor Wetland Invasive	North America
Brassica kaber	Charlock	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
	Wild mustard	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Bromus inermis	Smooth brome grass	CWS	Moderate Upland Invasive	North America
Bromus tectorum	Cheatgrass	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Butomus umbellatus	Flowering-rush	CWS	Principal Wetland Invasive	North America
Capsella bursa-pastoris	Shepherd's purse	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Caragana arborescens	Siberian peashrub	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Cardaria draba ssp. draba	Heart-podded hoary-cress	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Cardaria draba ssp. chalapensis	Chalapa hoary-cress	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Cardaria pubescens	Globe-pod hoary-cress	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Carduus acanthoides	Plumeless thistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Central Kootenay
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Carduus nutans	Nodding thistle	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Carduus nutans ssp. leiophyllus	Nodding thistle	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Centaurea biebersteinii	Spotted knapweed	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004	P	BC
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
Centaurea debeauxii	Meadow knapweed	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Centaurea pratensis	Meadow knapweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Columbia-Shuswap
Centaurea diffusa	Diffuse knapweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Centaurea nigra	Black knapweed	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Centaurea solstitialis	Yellow starthistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Chelidonium majus	Celandine	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Chenopodium album	Lamb's-quarters	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Chondrilla juncea	Rush skeletonweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
	Skeleton-weed	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Chorispora tenella	Blue mustard	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Cichorium intybus	Chicory	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Cirsium arvense	Canada thistle	CWS	Moderate Upland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Cirsium arvense var. horridum	Canada thistle	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Cirsium palustre	Marsh plume thistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Bulkley-Nechako, Fraser-Fort George
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Cirsium vulgare	Bull thistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Conium maculatum	Poison hemlock	M. of Agriculture and Lands	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Convolvulus arvensis	Field bindweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Coronilla varia	Crown-vetch	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Crataegus monogyna	European hawthorn		Invasive
Crupina vulgaris	Common crupina	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
	Crupina	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
	Parasitic dodder	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Cynoglossum officinale	Common hound's-tongue	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
	Hound's-tongue	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Cyperus esculentus var. leptostachyus	Yellow nut-grass	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Cytisus scoparius	Scotch broom	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Daphne laureola	Spurge-laurel	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Descurainia sophia	Flixweed	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Digitalis purpurea	Foxglove	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Echinochloa crusgalli	Barnyard grass	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
	Large barnyard-grass	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Echium vulgare	Blueweed	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Cariboo, Central Kootenay,
				Columbia-Shuswap, East Kootenay,
				Okanagan-Similkameen,
				Thompson-Nicola
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
	Viper's bugloss	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Elymus repens	Quackgrass	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Elytrigia repens	Quackgrass	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Erodium cicutarium	Stork's-bill	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Euphorbia cyparissias	Cypress spurge	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	BC
Euphorbia esula	Leafy spurge	CWS	Principal Upland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Fallopia japonica	Japanese knotweed	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Fallopia convolvulus	Black bindweed	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	Wild buckwheat	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Galium aparine	Cleavers	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Peace River
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Galium mollugo	White bedstraw	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Geranium robertianum	Herb-Robert; Robert's geranium		Invasive
Glyceria maxima	Great manna grass	CWS	Minor Wetland Invasive	North America
Gnaphalium uliginosum	Cudweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
	Marsh cudweed	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Gypsophila paniculata	Baby's-breath	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Hedera helix	English ivy	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	BC
Heracleum mantegazzianum	Giant hogweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Hesperis matronalis	Dame's rocket	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Hieracium aurantiacum	Orange hawkweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
	Orange-red king devil	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Hieracium caespitosum	Yellow hawkweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Hieracium pilosella	Meadow hawkweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Hordeum jubatum	Foxtail barley	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Hypericum perforatum	Common St. John's-wort	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	St. John's-wort	CWS	Moderate Upland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Hypochoeris radicata	Cat's-ear	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Ilex aquifolium	English holly	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Impatiens glandulifera	Himalayan balsam	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
	Impatiens	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Iris pseudacorus	Yellow flag	CWS	Minor Wetland Invasive	North America
Knautia arvensis	Field scabious	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Bulkley-Nechako, Kootenay-Boundary,
				Thompson-Nicola
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Kochia scoparia	Kochia	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Peace River
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
	Summer-cypress	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Lamiaum  galeobdolon	False lamium, yellow archangel		Invasive
Lamium amplexicaule	Common dead-nettle	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	Henbit	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Lepidium latifolium	Broad-leaved pepper-grass	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
	Perennial pepperweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	East Kootenay, Thompson-Nicola
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Leucanthemum vulgare	Oxeye daisy	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Linaria genistifolia ssp. dalmatica	Dalmatian toadflax	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Linaria vulgaris	Butter-and-eggs	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
	Yellow toadflax	M. of Agriculture and Lands		Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Lysimachia nummularia	Moneywort	CWS	Minor Wetland Invasive	North America
Lythrum salicaria	Purple loosestrife	CWS	Principal Wetland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Comox-Strathcona
				(by regional district bylaw)
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Madia glomerata	Cluster tarweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
	Clustered tarweed	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Madia sativa	Coast tarweed	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Malva neglecta	Common mallow	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
	Dwarf mallow	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Matricaria discoidea	Pineapple weed	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Matricaria perforata	Scentless chamomile	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
	Scentless mayweed	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Morus alba	White mulberry	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Myriophyllum aquaticum	parrot-feather		Invasive	Noxious in Washington
Myriophyllum spicatum	Eurasian watermilfoil	CWS	Principal Wetland Invasive	North America
Onopordum acanthium	Scotch thistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	North Okanagan
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Origanum vulgare	Wild marjoram	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Panicum capillare	Common witchgrass	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	Witchgrass	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Panicum miliaceum	Wild proso millet	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Persicaria maculata	Lady's-thumb	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Pinus sylvestris	Scots pine	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
			Minor Wetland Invasive	North America
Plantago lanceolata	Narrow-leaved plantain	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Plantago major	Broad-leaved plantain	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
	Common plantain	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Poa annua	Annual bluegrass	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Poa compressa	Canada bluegrass	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Poa pratensis	Kentucky bluegrass	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Polygonum sachalinense	Giant knotweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	(blank)	BC
Persicaria wallichii	Himalayan knotweed		Invasive
Potamogeton crispus	Curly pondweed	CWS	Minor Wetland Invasive	North America
Potentilla recta	Sulphur cinquefoil	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Columbia-Shuswap, North-Okanagan,
				Okanagan-Similkameen,
				Thompson-Nicola
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Prunus laurocerasus	Cherry laurel
Ranunculus repens	Creeping buttercup	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
			Principal Wetland Invasive	North America
Robinia pseudo-acacia	Black locust	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Rosa multiflora	Multiflora rose	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Rubus armeniacus	Himalayan blackberry	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
Rumex acetosella	Sheep sorrel	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Rumex crispus	Curled dock	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Salsola kali	Russian thistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Peace River
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Saponaria officinalis	Bouncing bet	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Sedum acre	Mossy stonecrop	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Senecio jacobaea	Tansy ragwort	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Senecio vulgaris	Common groundsel	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	Groundsel	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Setaria viridis	Green bristlegrass	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
	Green foxtail	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Peace River
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Silene vulgaris	Bladder campion	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Silene latifolia ssp. alba	White cockle	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Silene noctiflora	Night-flowering catchfly	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Peace River
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Solanum americanum	Black nightshade	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	European bittersweet	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Solanum dulcamara var. dulcamara	European bittersweet	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Solanum physalifolium	Hairy nightshade	WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Solanum rostratum	Buffalo-bur	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Solanum triflorum	Cut-leaved nightshade	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Soliva sessilis	Carpet burweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	(blank)	BC
Sonchus arvensis	Perennial sow-thistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Sonchus asper	Prickly sow-thistle	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	Spiny annual sow-thistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Sonchus oleraceus	Common sow-thistle	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
	Annual sow-thistle	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
Sorbus aucuparia	European mountain-ash	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Spergula arvensis	Corn spurry	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Stellaria media	Common chickweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Tanacetum vulgare	Common tansy	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Bulkley-Nechako, Central Kootenay,
				Columbia-Shuswap, East Kootenay,
				North Okanagan
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Thlaspi arvense	Field pennycress	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	Stinkweed	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Torilis japonica	Hedge parsley	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Tragopogon dubius	Goat's-beard	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
	Western goat's-beard	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
	Yellow salsify	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
Tribulus terrestris	Puncture vine	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	Okanagan-Similkameen
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	R	BC
Tussilago farfara	Coltsfoot	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Ulex europaeus	Gorse	M. of Agriculture and Lands	Noxious	BC
		WeedsBC	Weed	BC
		Meidinger et al.,  2004.	P	BC
Ulmus pumila	Siberian elm	CWS	Agric/Urban Weed	North America
Verbascum thapsus	Great mullein	Meidinger et al.,  2004.	I	BC
	Mullein	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America
		M. of Agriculture and Lands	Nuisance	Not Regulated
Vinca minor	Periwinkle	CWS	Minor Upland Invasive	North America