Custom Species Lists
Invasive species (those which are not native to the region and are known to cause harm) and non-native species both threaten the integrity of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Non-native species have the potential to become invasive, and preventing their introduction to the Sound is better than the costly and difficult work of removing them once they become established. Invasive species utilize resources which are vital to the survival of native species, and may outcompete or even feed on indigenous plants and animals, driving them towards extinction. Invasive species also may introduce disease and parasites, alter habitat, and breed with native species, diluting their genetic material. The Puget Sound Partnership states that aquatic nuisance species are the second greatest threat to Puget Sound biodiversity, after habitat loss.
These lists of invasive and nonnative species come from multiple sources (listed below), and are as current as possible. However, the status of these species in the Puget Sound region is subject to change, and many efforts are underway to eradicate harmful populations.
Noxious weeds in Washington State: Noxious Weed Control Board
Invasive Freshwater Species: USGS
Invasive Marine Species: National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Information System (NEMESIS)
Invasive Insects and Land Invertebrates: Looney, Chris, Eric LaGasa and Todd Murray. Exotic Pest Detection in Washington State: How Alert Citizens and Insatiable Naturalists Enhance Pest Survey. Presentation, Entomological Society of America, 2011.
Noxious weeds
- Salvia aethiopis - (African Sage)
- Nymphaea odorata - (American Water-lily)
- Hedera hibernica - (Atlantic Ivy)
- Rorippa austriaca - (Austrian Yellowcress)
- Centaurea calcitrapa - (Big-head Purple Starthistle)
- Centaurea macrocephala - (Big-head Starthistle)
- Hyoscyamus niger - (Black Henbane)
- Centaurea nigra - (Black Starthistle)
- Juncus gerardii - (Black-grass Rush)
- Sphaerophysa salsula - (Bladder-vetch)
- Silybum marianum - (Blessed Milk-thistle)
- Helianthus ciliaris - (Blue-weed Sunflower)
- Schoenoplectus mucronatus - (Bog Bulrush)
- Polygonum x bohemicum - (Bohemian Knotweed)
- Egeria densa - (Brazilian Waterweed)
- Lepidium latifolium - (Broadleaf Pepper-grass)
- Myriophyllum heterophyllum - (Broadleaf Water-milfoil)
- Centaurea jacea - (Brown Starthistle)
- Solanum rostratum - (Buffalo Bur)
- Cirsium vulgare - (Bull Thistle)
- Linaria vulgaris - (Butter-and-eggs)
- Alhagi maurorum - (Camelthorn)
- Conyza canadensis - (Canada Horseweed)
- Cabomba caroliniana - (Carolina Fanwort)
- Cyperus esculentus - (Chufa Flatsedge)
- Salvia sclarea - (Clary Sage)
- Cotula coronopifolia - (Common Brassbuttons)
- Anchusa officinalis - (Common Bugloss)
- Spartina anglica - (Common Cordgrass)
- Crupina vulgaris - (Common Crupina)
- Hieracium lachenalii - (Common Hawkweed)
- Cynoglossum officinale - (Common Hound's-tongue)
- Galega officinalis - (Common Milkpea)
- Phragmites australis - (Common Reed)
- Hypericum perforatum - (Common St. John's-wort)
- Tanacetum vulgare - (Common Tansy)
- Hemizonia pungens - (Common Tarweed)
- Echium vulgare - (Common Viper's-bugloss)
- Artemisia absinthium - (Common Wormwood)
- Cirsium arvense - (Creeping Thistle)
- Polygonum polystachyum - (Cultivated Knotweed)
- Secale cereale - (Cultivated Rye)
- Potamogeton crispus - (Curly Pondweed)
- Linaria dalmatica ssp. dalmatica - (Dalmatian Toadflax)
- Centaurea diffusa - (Diffuse Knapweed)
- Zostera japonica - (Dwarf Eel-grass)
- Isatis tinctoria - (Dyer's Woad)
- Euphorbia oblongata - (Eggleaf Spurge)
- Hedera helix - (English Ivy)
- Myriophyllum spicatum - (Eurasian Water-milfoil)
- Lythrum virgatum - (European Wand Loosestrife)
- Rubus laciniatus - (Evergreen Blackberry)
- Amorpha fruticosa - (False Indigobush)
- Lepyrodiclis holosteoides - (False Jagged-chickweed)
- Convolvulus arvensis - (Field Bindweed)
- Torilis arvensis - (Field Hedge-parsley)
- Sonchus arvensis ssp. arvensis - (Field Sowthistle)
- Ludwigia peploides - (Floating Seedbox)
- Butomus umbellatus - (Flowering-rush)
- Centaurea cyanus - (Garden Cornflower)
- Lysimachia vulgaris - (Garden Loosestrife)
- Alliaria petiolata - (Garlic Mustard)
- Heracleum mantegazzianum - (Giant Hogweed)
- Polygonum sachalinense - (Giant Knotweed)
- Ulex europaeus - (Gorse)
- Sagittaria graminea - (Grassleaf Arrowhead)
- Epilobium hirsutum - (Great Hairy Willowherb)
- Picris hieracioides - (Hawkweed Oxtongue)
- Cardaria draba - (Heart-pod Hoarycress)
- Geranium robertianum - (Herb-Robert)
- Rubus bifrons - (Himalayan Blackberry)
- Berteroa incana - (Hoary False Alyssum)
- Spartina densiflora - (Humboldt Cordgrass)
- Hydrilla verticillata - (Hydrilla)
- Carduus pycnocephalus - (Italian Thistle)
- Polygonum cuspidatum - (Japanese Knotweed)
- Sorghum halepense - (Johnson Grass)
- Aegilops cylindrica - (Jointed Goatgrass)
- Pueraria montana var. lobata - (Kudzu)
- Soliva sessilis - (Lawn Burweed)
- Euphorbia esula - (Leafy Spurge)
- Cenchrus longispinus - (Long-spine Sandbur)
- Cardaria pubescens - (Long-stalk Hoarycress)
- Hieracium caespitosum - (Meadow Hawkweed)
- Centaurea debeauxii ssp. thuillieri - (Meadow Knapweed)
- Salvia pratensis - (Meadow Sage)
- Bassia scoparia - (Mexican Fireweed)
- Alopecurus myosuroides - (Mouse Foxtail)
- Hieracium pilosella - (Mouse-ear Hawkweed)
- Carduus nutans - (Musk Thistle)
- Euphorbia myrsinites - (Myrtle Spurge)
- Hieracium sabaudum - (New England Hawkweed)
- Senecio vulgaris - (Old-Man-in-the-Spring)
- Hieracium aurantiacum - (Orange Hawkweed)
- Buddleja davidii - (Orange-eye Butterfly-bush)
- Clematis orientalis - (Oriental Virgin's-bower)
- Leucanthemum vulgare - (Oxeye Daisy)
- Hieracium x floribundum - (Pale Hawkweed )
- Myriophyllum aquaticum - (Parrot Feather Water-milfoil)
- Conium maculatum - (Poison-hemlock)