Weeds in natural areas
These weed reports are from the Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States book. To purchase a copy of the book, visit the UC ANR catalog (https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=3547) and search for Publication 3547.
- List by COMMON NAME (alphabetically)
- List by SCIENTIFIC NAME (alphabetically)
To search through the list, use "Ctrl F" (FIND function.)
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Common name | Family |
| Acacia melanoxylon | Black acacia | Fabaceae |
| Acroptilon repens | Russian knapweed | Asteraceae |
| Aegilops cylindrica · integrated management | Jointed goatgrass | Poaceae |
| Aegilops triuncialis · UC ANR Publ 8315 | Barb goatgrass | Poaceae |
| Ageratina adenophora | Croftonweed | Asteraceae |
| Agrostis avenacea | Pacific bentgrass | Poaceae |
| Agrostis stolonifera | Creeping bentgrass | Poaceae |
| Ailanthus altissima | Tree-of-heaven | Simaroubaceae |
| Alhagi pseudalhagi | Camelthorn | Fabaceae |
| Alliaria petiolata | Garlic mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Alternanthera philoxeroides | Alligatorweed | Amaranthaceae |
| Alyssum alyssoides | Yellowtuft | Brassicaceae |
| Amaranthus spp. | Amaranths, Pigweeds | Amaranthaceae |
| Ambrosia acanthicarpa | Annual bursage | Asteraceae |
| Ambrosia artemisiifolia | Common ragweed | Asteraceae |
| Ammophila arenaria | European beachgrass | Poaceae |
| Amorpha fruticosa | Indigobush | Fabaceae |
| Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia | Coast fiddleneck | Boraginaceae |
| Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii | Menzies fiddleneck | Boraginaceae |
| Anthoxanthum odoratum | Sweet vernalgrass | Poaceae |
| Anthriscus caucalis | Bur chervil | Apiaceae |
| Anthriscus sylvestris | Wild chervil | Apiaceae |
| Arctotheca calendula | Capeweed | Asteraceae |
| Artemisia absinthium | Absinth wormwood | Asteraceae |
| Artemisia tridentata | Sagebrush | Asteraceae |
| Arundo donax | Giant reed | Poaceae |
| Asclepias fascicularis | Mexican whorled milkweed | Asclepiadaceae |
| Asclepias speciosa | Showy milkweed | Asclepiadaceae |
| Asparagus asparagoides | Bridal creeper | Liliaceae |
| Asphodelus fistulosus | Onionweed | Liliaceae |
| Atriplex semibaccata | Australian saltbush | Chenopodiaceae |
| Avena barbata | Slender oat | Poaceae |
| Avena fatua | Wild oat | Poaceae |
| Azolla spp. | Mosquitoferns | Azollaceae |
| Bassia hyssopifolia | Fivehook bassia | Chenopodiaceae |
| Bassia scoparia | Kochia | Chenopodiaceae |
| Berteroa incana | Hoary alyssum | Brassicaceae |
| Brachypodium distachyon | Annual false-brome | Poaceae |
| Brachypodium sylvaticum | Slender false-brome | Poaceae |
| Brasenia schreberi | Watershield | Cabombaceae |
| Brassica nigra | Black mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Brassica rapa | Birdsrape mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Brassica tournefortii | Saharan mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Briza maxima | Big quakinggrass | Poaceae |
| Bromus diandrus | Ripgut brome | Poaceae |
| Bromus hordeaceus | Soft brome. Soft chess | Poaceae |
| Bromus inermis | Smooth brome | Poaceae |
| Bromus japonicus | Japanese brome | Poaceae |
| Bromus madritensis spp. rubens | Red brome | Poaceae |
| Bromus tectorum | Cheatgrass, Downy brome | Poaceae |
| Bryonia alba | White bryony | Cucurbitaceae |
| Buddleja davidii | Butterflybush | Buddlejaceae |
| Butomus umbellatus | Flowering rush | Butomaceae |
| Cabomba caroliniana | Fanwort | Cabombaceae |
| Cakile maritima | Sea rocket | Brassicaceae |
| Capsella bursa-pastoris | Shepherd’s-purse | Brassicaceae |
| Cardaria chalepensis | Lens-podded whitetop | Brassicaceae |
| Cardaria draba | Hoary cress, Whitetop | Brassicaceae |
| Cardaria pubescens | Hairy whitetop | Brassicaceae |
| Carduus acanthoides | Plumeless thistle | Asteraceae |
| Carduus nutans | Musk thistle | Asteraceae |
| Carduus pycnocephalus | Italian thistle | Asteraceae |
| Carduus tenuiflorus | Slenderflower thistle | Asteraceae |
| Carpobrotus edulis | Hottentot fig, Iceplant | Aizoaceae |
| Carthamus lanatus | Woolly distaff thistle | Asteraceae |
| Carum carvi | Common caraway | Apiaceae |
| Catalpa bignonioides | Catalpa | Bignoniaceae |
| Cenchrus spp. | Sandburs | Poaceae |
| Centaurea calcitrapa | Purple starthistle | Asteraceae |
| Centaurea debeauxii | Meadow knapweed | Asteraceae |
| Centaurea diffusa | Diffuse knapweed | Asteraceae |
| Centaurea iberica | Iberian starthistle | Asteraceae |
| Centaurea melitensis | Malta starthistle | Asteraceae |
| Centaurea melitensis | Tocalote | Asteraceae |
| Centaurea solstitialis · management guide · Pest Notes | Yellow starthistle | Asteraceae |
| Centaurea stoebe | Spotted knapweed | Asteraceae |
| Centaurea virgata spp. squarrosa | Squarrose knapweed | Asteraceae |
| Ceratocephala testiculata | Bur buttercup | Ranunculaceae |
| Ceratophyllum demersum | Coontail | Ceratophyllaceae |
| Chara spp. | Chara | Characeae |
| Chenopodium album | Common lambsquarter | Chenopodiaceae |
| Chenopodium berlandieri | Netseed lambsquarter | Chenopodiaceae |
| Chondrilla juncea | Rush skeletonweed | Asteraceae |
| Chorispora tenella | Blue mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Chrysanthemum coronarium | Crowndaisy | Asteraceae |
| Chrysothamnus nauseosus | Rabbitbrush | Asteraceae |
| Cichorium intybus | Chicory | Asteraceae |
| Cirsium arvense | Canada thistle | Asteraceae |
| Cirsium vulgare | Bull thistle | Asteraceae |
| Clematis vitalba | Old-man’s-beard | Ranunculaceae |
| Conium maculatum | Poison-hemlock | Apiaceae |
| Convolvulus arvensis | Field bindweed | Convolvulaceae |
| Conyza bonariensis | Hairy fleabane | Asteraceae |
| Conyza canadensis | Horseweed | Asteraceae |
| Cortaderia jubata · brochure · woody weed invaders | Jubatagrass | Poaceae |
| Cortaderia selloana · brochure · invasive plants · woody weed invaders | Pampasgrass | Poaceae |
| Cotoneaster spp. | Cotoneasters | Rosaceae |
| Cotula australis | Southern brassbuttons | Asteraceae |
| Cotula coronopifolia | Brassbuttons | Asteraceae |
| Crataegus monogyna | English hawthorn | Rosaceae |
| Crocosmia x crocosmiflora | Crocosmia | Iridaceae |
| Crocosmiax crocosmiflora | Montbretia | Iridaceae |
| Crupina vulgaris | Common crupina | Asteraceae |
| Cuscuta japonica | Giant dodder, Japanese dodder | Cuscutaceae |
| Cynara cardunculus | Artichoke thistle | Asteraceae |
| Cynodon dactylon | Bermudagrass | Poaceae |
| Cynoglossum officinale | Houndstongue | Boraginaceae |
| Cynosurus echinatus | Hedgehog dogtailgrass | Poaceae |
| Cytisus scoparius | Scotch broom | Fabaceae |
| Dactylis glomerata | Orchardgrass | Poaceae |
| Daucus carota | Wild carrot | Apiaceae |
| Delairea odorata | Cape-ivy | Asteraceae |
| Descurainia sophia | Flixweed | Brassicaceae |
| Descurainia sophia | Tansymustard | Brassicaceae |
| Digitalis purpurea | Foxglove | Scrophulariaceae |
| Dipsacus fullonum | Common teasel | Dipsacaceae |
| Dipsacus laciniatus | Cutleaf teasel | Dipsacaceae |
| Dipsacus sativus | Fuller’s teasel | Dipsacaceae |
| Dittrichia graveolens | Stinkwort | Asteraceae |
| Echium plantagineum | Vipers bugloss | Boraginaceae |
| Echium vulgare | Blueweed | Boraginaceae |
| Echium vulgare | Vipers bugloss | Boraginaceae |
| Egeria densa | Brazilian egeria | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Ehrharta spp. | Veldtgrasses | Poaceae |
| Eichhornia crassipes | Water hyacinth | Pontederiaceae |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia | Russian-olive | Elaeagnaceae |
| Elodea canadensis | Common elodea | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Elytrigia repens | Quackgrass | Poaceae |
| Emex spinosa | Spiny emex | Polygonaceae |
| Equisetum spp. | Horsetails, Scouringrushes | Equisetaceae |
| Eragrostis spp. | Lovegrasses, Stinkgrasses | Poaceae |
| Erechtites spp. | Burnweeds | Asteraceae |
| Erodium cicutarium | Redstem filaree | Geraniaceae |
| Eucalyptus globulus | Tasmanian blue gum | Myrtaceae |
| Euphorbia esula · biological control | Leafy spurge | Euphorbiaceae |
| Euphorbia oblongata | Oblong spurge | Euphorbiaceae |
| Euphorbia terracina | Carnation spurge | Euphorbiaceae |
| Euryops multifidus | Sweet resinbush | Asteraceae |
| Festuca arundinacea | Tall fescue | Poaceae |
| Ficus carica | Fig | Moraceae |
| Foeniculum vulgare | Fennel | Apiaceae |
| Galega officinalis | Goatsrue | Fabaceae |
| Genista monspessulana | French broom | Fabaceae |
| Geranium dissectum | Cutleaf geranium | Geraniaceae |
| Geranium purpureum | Little robin | Geraniaceae |
| Geranium robertianum | Herb-robert | Geraniaceae |
| Glyceria declinata | Waxy mannagrass | Poaceae |
| Gypsophila paniculata | Baby’s-breath | Caryophyllaceae |
| Halogeton glomeratus | Halogeton | Chenopodiaceae |
| Hedera canariensis | Algerian ivy | Araliaceae |
| Hedera helix | English ivy | Araliaceae |
| Hedera hibernica | Atlantic ivy | Araliaceae |
| Hedera hibernica | Irish ivy | Araliaceae |
| Helianthus annuus | Common sunflower | Asteraceae |
| Hemizonia fitchii | Fitch’s tarweed | Asteraceae |
| Hemizonia parryi | Parry’s tarweed | Asteraceae |
| Hemizonia pungens | Spikeweed | Asteraceae |
| Heracleum mantegazzianum | Giant hogweed | Apiaceae |
| Hesperis matronalis | Damesrocket | Brassicaceae |
| Hieracium spp. | Hawkweeds | Asteraceae |
| Hirschfeldia incana | Shortpod mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Holcus lanatus | Common velvetgrass | Poaceae |
| Holocarpha virgata | Virgate tarweed | Asteraceae |
| Hordeum jubatum | Foxtail barley | Poaceae |
| Hordeum marinum | Mediterranean barley | Poaceae |
| Hordeum murinum | Hare barley | Poaceae |
| Hydrilla verticillata | Hydrilla | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Hydrocotyle ranunculoides | Floating pennywort | Apiaceae |
| Hyoscyamus niger | Black henbane | Solanaceae |
| Hypericum canariensis | Canary Island hypericum | Clusiaceae or Hypericaceae |
| Hypericum perforatum | Common St. Johnswort, Klamathweed | Clusiaceae or Hypericaceae |
| Hypochaeris glabra | Smooth catsear | Asteraceae |
| Hypochaeris radicata | Common catsear | Asteraceae |
| Ilex aquifolium | English holly | Aquifoliaceae |
| Iris pseudacorus | Yellowflag iris | Iridaceae |
| Isatis tinctoria | Dyer’s woad | Brassicaceae |
| Iva axillaris | Povertyweed | Asteraceae |
| Juncus effusus | Soft rush | Juncaceae |
| Juncus patens | Spreading rush | Juncaceae |
| Lactuca serriola | Prickly lettuce | Asteraceae |
| Lagarosiphon major | Oxygenweed | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Lamium amplexicaule | Henbit | Lamiaceae |
| Lathyrus latifolius | Everlasting peavine | Fabaceae |
| Lemna spp. or Spirodela spp. | Duckweeds | Lemnaceae |
| Lepidium latifolium · biology, ecology and control · brochure · Pest Notes | Perennial pepperweed, Tall whiteto | Brassicaceae |
| Lepidium perfoliatum | Clasping pepperweed | Brassicaceae |
| Leucanthemum vulgare | Oxeye daisy | Asteraceae |
| Ligustrum lucidum | Glossy privet | Oleaceae |
| Limnobium laevigatum | Smooth frogbit, South American spongeplant | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Linaria dalmatica | Dalmatian toadflax | Scrophulariaceae |
| Linaria vulgaris | Yellow toadflax | Scrophulariaceae |
| Lobularia maritima | Sweet alyssum | Brassicaceae |
| Lolium multiflorum | Italian ryegrass | Poaceae |
| Lolium perenne | Perennial ryegrass | Poaceae |
| Lotus corniculatus | Birdsfoot trefoil | Fabaceae |
| Ludwigia spp. | Waterprimroses | Onagraceae |
| Lupinus spp. | Lupines | Fabaceae |
| Lysimachia vulgaris | Garden loosestrife | Primulaceae |
| Lythrum hyssopifolium | Hyssop loosestrife | Lythraceae |
| Lythrum salicaria | Purple loosestrife | Lythraceae |
| Lythrum virgatum | Wand loosestrife | Lythraceae |
| Malcolmia africana | African mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Malva neglecta | Common mallow | Malvaceae |
| Marrubium vulgare | White horehound | Lamiaceae |
| Medicago polymorpha | California burclover | Fabaceae |
| Melilotus albus | White sweetclover | Fabaceae |
| Mentha pulegium | Pennyroyal | Lamiaceae |
| Mirabilis nyctaginea | Wild four-o’clock | Nyctaginaceae |
| Myoporum laetum | Myoporum | Myoporaceae |
| Myosotis latifolia | Broadleaf forget-me-not | Boraginaceae |
| Myriophyllum aquaticum | Parrotfeather | Haloragaceae |
| Myriophyllum spicatum | Eurasian watermilfoil | Haloragaceae |
| Najas spp. | Naiads | Hydrocharitaceae or Najadaceae |
| Nicotiana glauca | Tree tobacco | Solanaceae |
| Nitella spp. | Nitella | Characeae |
| Nuphar lutea | Yellow pondlily | Nymphaeaceae |
| Nymphaea odorata | Fragrant waterlily | Nymphaeaceae |
| Nymphoides peltata | Yellow floatingheart | Nymphaeaceae |
| Olea europaea | Olive | Oleaceae |
| Onopordum acanthium | Scotch thistle | Asteraceae |
| Oxalis pes-caprae | Bermuda buttercup, Buttercup oxalis | Oxalidaceae |
| Paspalum dilatatum | Dallisgrass | Poaceae |
| Peganum harmala | African rue, Harmal rue | Zygophyllaceae |
| Pennisetum ciliare | Buffelgrass | Poaceae |
| Pennisetum clandestinum | Kikuyugrass | Poaceae |
| Pennisetum setaceum | Crimson fountaingrass | Poaceae |
| Phalaris aquatica | Hardinggrass | Poaceae |
| Phalaris arundinacea | Reed canarygrass | Poaceae |
| Phoenix canariensis | Canary Island date palm | Arecaceae |
| Phragmites australis | Common reed | Poaceae |
| Phytolacca americana | Common pokeweed | Phytolaccaceae |
| Picris echioides | Bristly oxtongue | Asteraceae |
| Piptatherum miliaceum | Smilograss | Poaceae |
| Pittosporum undulatum | Victorian box | Pittosporaceae |
| Plantago lanceolata | Buckhorn plantain | Plantaginaceae |
| Poa bulbosa | Bulbous bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa pratensis | Kentucky bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Polygonum arenastrum | Prostrate knotweed | Polygonaceae |
| Polygonum convolvulus | Wild buckwheat | Polygonaceae |
| Polygonum cuspidatum | Japanese knotweed | Polygonaceae |
| Polygonum lapathifolium | Pale smartweed | Polygonaceae |
| Polygonum persicaria | Ladysthumb | Polygonaceae |
| Polygonum polystachyum | Himalayan knotweed | Polygonaceae |
| Polygonum sachalinense | Giant knotweed, Sakhalin knotweed | Polygonaceae |
| Polygonum x bohemicum | Bohemian knotweed | Polygonaceae |
| Polypogon monspeliensis | Rabbitfoot polypogon | Poaceae |
| Potamogeton crispus | Curlyleaf pondweed | Potamogetonaceae |
| Potamogeton foliosus | Leafy pondweed | Potamogetonaceae |
| Potamogeton illinoensis | Illinois pondweed | Potamogetonaceae |
| Potamogeton natans | Floatingleaf pondweed | Potamogetonaceae |
| Potamogeton nodosus | American pondweed | Potamogetonaceae |
| Potentilla recta | Sulfur cinquefoil | Rosaceae |
| Prunus cerasifera | Cherry plum | Rosaceae |
| Pyracantha spp. | Firethorn, Pyracantha | Rosaceae |
| Ranunculus acris | Tall buttercup | Ranunculaceae |
| Ranunculus repens | Creeping buttercup | Ranunculaceae |
| Ranunculus testiculatus | Bur buttercup | Ranunculaceae |
| Raphanus raphanistrum | Wild radish | Brassicaceae |
| Raphanus sativus | Radish | Brassicaceae |
| Ricinus communis | Castorbean | Euphorbiaceae |
| Robinia pseudoacacia | Black locust | Fabaceae |
| Rosa canina | Dog rose | Rosaceae |
| Rosa eglanteria | Sweetbriar rose | Rosaceae |
| Rosa multiflora | Multiflora rose | Rosaceae |
| Rubus armeniacus | Himalaya blackberry | Rosaceae |
| Rumex acetosella | Red sorrel, Sheep sorrel | Polygonaceae |
| Rumex crispus | Curly dock | Polygonaceae |
| Rumex obtusifolius | Broadleaf dock | Polygonaceae |
| Ruppia maritima | Widgeongrass | Potamogetonaceae or Ruppiaceae |
| Salix spp. | Willows | Salicaceae |
| Salsola paulsenii | Barbwire Russian-thistle | Chenopodiaceae |
| Salsola tragus · Pest Notes | Russian-thistle, Tumbleweed | Chenopodiaceae |
| Salvia aethiopis | Mediterranean sage | Lamiaceae |
| Salvinia molesta | Giant salvinia | Salviniaceae |
| Sapium sebiferum | Chinese tallowtree | Euphorbiaceae |
| Saponaria officinalis | Bouncingbet | Caryophyllaceae |
| Sarcobatus vermiculatus | Greasewood | Chenopodiaceae |
| Schinus spp. | Peppertrees | Anacardiaceae |
| Schismus spp. | Mediterraneangrasses | Poaceae |
| Scirpus acutus | Hardstem bulrush, Hardstem tule | Cyperaceae |
| Secale cereale | Common rye | Poaceae |
| Senecio jacobaea | Tansy ragwort | Asteraceae |
| Sesbania punicea | Red sesbania | Fabaceae |
| Setaria spp. | Foxtails | Poaceae |
| Silybum marianum | Blessed milkthistle | Asteraceae |
| Sinapis arvensis | Wild mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Sisymbrium altissimum | Tumble mustard | Brassicaceae |
| Sisymbrium irio | London rocket | Brassicaceae |
| Solanum elaeagnifolium | Silverleaf nightshade | Solanaceae |
| Sorghum halepense | Johnsongrass | Poaceae |
| Spartinaspp. | Cordgrasses | Poaceae |
| Spartium junceum | Spanish broom | Fabaceae |
| Sphaerophysa salsula | Swainsonpea | Fabaceae |
| Spirodela spp. | Duckmeats | Lemnaceae |
| Sporobolus indicus · managing smutgrass in irrigated pastures | Smutgrass | Poaceae |
| Stipa capensis | Mediterranean steppegrass | Poaceae |
| Stuckenia pectinata | Sago pondweed | Potamogetonaceae |
| Taeniatherum caput-medusae · management guide · state of the weed handout · state of the weed presentation | Medusahead | Poaceae |
| Tamarix spp. · brochure · invasive plants | Saltcedar, Tamarisk | Tamaricaceae |
| Tanacetum vulgare | Common tansy | Asteraceae |
| Taraxacum officinale | Dandelion | Asteraceae |
| Thlaspi arvense | Field pennycress | Brassicaceae |
| Torilis arvensis | Hedgeparsley | Apiaceae |
| Toxicodendron diversilobum · Pest Notes | Pacific poison-oak | Anacardiaceae |
| Trapa natans | Water chestnut | Trapaceae |
| Tribulus terrestris | Puncturevine | Zygophyllaceae |
| Trichostema lanceolatum | Vinegarweed | Lamiaceae |
| Trifolium hirtum | Rose clover | Fabaceae |
| Tripidium ravennae | Ravennagrass | Poaceae |
| Typha spp. | Cattails | Typhaceae |
| Ulex europaeus | Gorse | Fabaceae |
| Ulmus pumila | Siberian elm | Ulmaceae |
| Urtica dioica | Stinging nettle | Urticaceae |
| Ventenata dubia | North African wiregrass | Poaceae |
| Verbascum blattaria | Moth mullein | Scrophulariaceae |
| Verbascum thapsus | Common mullein | Scrophulariaceae |
| Verbena bonariensis | Tall vervain | Verbenaceae |
| Verbena litoralis | Seashore vervain | Verbenaceae |
| Veronica anagallis-aquatica | Water speedwell | Scrophulariaceae |
| Vinca major | Big periwinkle | Apocynaceae |
| Vulpia myuros | Rattail fescue | Poaceae |
| Washingtonia robusta | Mexican fan palm | Arecaceae |
| Watsonia meriana | Watsonia | Iridaceae |
| Wolffia spp. | Watermeals | Lemnaceae |
| Xanthium spinosum | Spiny cocklebur | Asteraceae |
| Xanthium strumarium | Common cocklebur | Asteraceae |
| Zannichellia palustris | Horned pondweed | Zannichelliaceae |
| Zantedeschia aethiopica | Calla lily | Araceae |
| Zigadenus spp. | Deathcamas | Liliaceae |
| Zygophyllum fabago | Syrian beancaper | Zygophyllaceae |