Not all of the showy plants you see along Iowa's roadways are native grasses and wildflowers. Some are invasive, non-native plant species. Invasive plants are species that have become established in an area and, by out-competing more desirable plants, can degrade agricultural land and natural areas. Invasive plants continually adapt and move to new habitats, particularly disturbed roadsides. Controlling the spread of these species is an IRVM priority. Several showy invasive plants, commonly found in Iowa, are shown below. Click on the links for more information.
*Iowa Primary Noxious Weed **Iowa Secondary Noxious Weed See a complete list of Iowa's noxious weeds and learn more about the Iowa Weed Law.
GENERAL INVASIVE PLANT INFORMATION LINKS:
Center for Invasive Plant Management Plant Conservation Alliance USDA - National Invasive Species Information Center Iowa State Weed Science