NOTICE: The WeedUS Database of plants invading natural areas in the U.S. (including Hawaii) has been compiled from a wide variety of sources including publications, reports, surveys, and occasional personal observations from experts in the field. Sources include the National Park Service and other federal agencies, state and local natural resource departments, The Nature Conservancy, state and regional Exotic Pest Plant Councils and related organizations, universities and others. Sources for each plant listed are provided on the table -- click on the REFERENCE(S) header to go to a legend for the source codes. The current list includes over 1,000 plants and is updated as needed. Please contact Jil Swearingen (jil_swearingen@nps.gov) regarding any errors, omissions or potential additions to the list.
The purpose of this list is informational and educational and it is neither intended nor approved for use as a regulatory tool. Many of the species on this list are economically important horticultural plants but sometimes cause problems when they escape and establish in natural areas.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | All | Mid-Atlantic | National parks
Download the complete WeedUS Excel filePlant Conservation Aliance - Alien Plant Working Group's
![]() Species beginning with the letter P |
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| SCIENTIFIC NAME | COMMON NAME | STATES | NATIONAL PARKS | REFERENCE(S) | FACT SHEET |
| Pachysandra terminalis | Japanese spurge; Japanese pachysandra | VA, DC | ROCR | FC, JS, TNC |
Volunteer |
| Paederia cruddasiana | sewer vine | FL | FC , FLEPPC |
Volunteer | |
| Paederia foetida | skunk vine | FL, HI | FC, FLEPPC, HEAR, TNC |
Volunteer | |
| Panicum antidotale | blue panicum | AZ | ORPI | JS |
Volunteer |
| Panicum repens | torpedo grass | FL, GA, TX | ABS, FC, FLEPPC, GAEPPC, TNC |
In Progress | |
| Paraserianthes lophantha | plume-albizia | CA | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Parentucellia viscosa | yellow glandweed | CA, HI, OR, WA | HALE | FC, JS, PNWEPPC, TNC |
Volunteer |
| Parthenocissus tricuspidata | Boston ivy | CA | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Paspalum conjugatum | hilograss | HI | HALE | UHI, JS, TNC |
Volunteer |
| Paspalum dilatatum | dallis grass | CA, HI, MD, TN, TX | DEVA, HALE, MONO | JS, UHI |
Volunteer |
| Paspalum fimbriatum | fimbriate paspalum; Panama crowngrass | HI | UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Paspalum notatum | Bahia grass | FL | FC, TNC |
Volunteer | |
| Paspalum scrobiculatum | ricegrass; mau'u-laiki | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Paspalum urvillei | Vasey's grass | HI | HALE | UHI, JS |
Volunteer |
| Passiflora bicornis | wingleaf passion flower | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Passiflora edulis | purple granadilla | HI | HALE | UHI, JS, TNC |
Volunteer |
| Passiflora foetida | stinking passion flower, runningpop | HI | HALE | FC, JS |
Volunteer |
| Passiflora laurifolia | golden bellapple | HI | UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Passiflora ligularis | sweet granadilla | HI | UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Passiflora mollissima | Banana poka | HI | NWRA, TNC, UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Passiflora suberosa | corkystem passionflower | HI | TNC, UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Passiflora subpeltata | white passionflower | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pastinaca sativa | wild parsnip | MI, OH, PA, TN, VA, WI | COLO, YELL | AAPR, FC, JS, PADCNR, TNC, VADCR, WI, WIDNR |
Volunteer |
| Paulownia tomentosa | princess tree; empress tree | CT, DC, GA, KY, LA, MD, NC, NJ, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV | ANTI, APCO, BLRI, CHOH, COLO, GETT, GEWA, GRSM, HAFE, MONO, PETE, PRWI, RICH, O704ROCR, SHEN | CIPWG, FC, GAEPPC, KYEPPC, MDDNR, NCDPR, NJDA, JS, NPSO, PADCNR, SR, TNC, TNEPPC, VADCR |
Yes |
| Pavonia hastata | spearleaf swamp mallow | FL, GA | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Pavonia spinifex | gingerbush | FL, GA | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Peganum harmala | African rue | OR, WA | FC, PNWEPPC |
Volunteer | |
| Pennisetum ciliare var. ciliare | buffelgrass | HI, TX | JP, UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Pennisetum ciliare | buffelgrass | AZ, TX | CHIR, ORPI | AZJS, EU, JS |
Volunteer |
| Pennisetum clandestinum | kikuyugrass | HI | HALE | JS, TNC, UHI |
Volunteer |
| Pennisetum glaucum | pearl millet, yellow foxtail | AZ, CA, IL, SD, WV | BADL, DEVA, GRCA, HAFE, MANA, THRO | EU, JS |
Volunteer |
| Pennisetum purpureum | elephant gras; Napier grass | FL, HI | HALE | FC, FLEPPC, JS, |
Volunteer |
| Pennisetum setaceum | crimson fountaingrass | AZ, CA, HI, NV | CHIR, LAME, ORPI | AZJS, CAEPPC, FC, JS, UHI |
Yes |
| Perilla frutescens | beefsteak plant | DC, IL, MD, MO, PA, TN, VA, WV | ANTI, CATO, COLO, HAFE, MANA, MONO, ROCR, SHEN, STRI | EU, FC, MDCES, MDDNR, MODOC, PADCNR, JS, VADCR |
Volunteer |
| Persea americana | avocado | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Petrorhagia dubia | childing pink | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Petroselinum crispum | parsley | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Phalaris aquatica | Harding grass | HI, OR | HALE | FC, JS, NPSO |
Volunteer |
| Phalaris arundinacea | reed canary grass | AK, CO, CT, DE, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, MT, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WA, WI | BLRI, CUYA, INDU, MIMA, ROMO, SACN | JS |
In Progress |
| Phalaris canariensis | canary grass | CA, MI | DEVA, GRSM | AAPR, JS |
Volunteer |
| Phalaris minor | littleseed canarygrass | AZ | ORPI | JS |
Volunteer |
| Phellodendron amurense | Amur cork tree | IL, MA, NY, PA, VA | EU, PERT, VADCR? |
In Progress | |
| Phellodendron japonicum | Japanese corktree | NJ | NJDA |
Volunteer | |
| Phlebodium aureum | laua'e-haole | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Phleum pratense | Timothy grass | AZ, MD, MI, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, WY | ANTI, BADL, COLO, GRCA, YELL | AAPR, FC, JS, PNWEPPC, TNC, VADCR |
Volunteer |
| Phoenix dactylifera | date palm | CA, NV | DEVA, GRCA, LAME | JS |
Volunteer |
| Phoenix reclinata | reclining date palm; Senegal date palm | FL | TNC, FC |
Volunteer | |
| Phormium tenax | New Zealand flax | HI | TNC, UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Phragmites australis | common reed; phragmites | CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IN, KY, MD, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WI | COLO, CUYA, DINO, GEWA, GWMP, INDU, NACE | AAPR, CIPWG, GAEPPC, INPAWS, IPCNYS, KYEPPC, MDCES, MDDNR, NCDPR, NHISC, NJDA, JS, NWRA, PADCNR, PERT, TNEPPC, VADCR, VTDEC, WIDNR |
Yes |
| Phyllostachys aurea | golden bamboo, running bamboo | GA, MD, PA, VA, WV | COLO, HAFE | GAEPPC, MDCES, MDDNR, JS, PERT, VADCR |
Volunteer |
| Phymatosorus scolopendria | wart fern | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Physalis peruviana | Peruvian ground- cherry | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Physalis virginiana var. virginiana | Virginia groundcherry | CA | DEVA | JS |
Volunteer |
| Picea abies | Norway spruce | HI, MD, TN | GRSM, HALE, MONO | JS, SR |
Volunteer |
| Picris hieracioides | hawkweed ox-tongue | OR, WA | PNWEPPC |
Volunteer | |
| Pilea microphylla | rockweed; artillery plant | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pinus contorta var. latifolia | lodgepole pine | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pinus coulteri | Coulter pine | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pinus elliottii var. elliottii | Caribbean pine | HI | UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Pinus jeffreyi | Jeffrey pine | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pinus pinaster | cluster pine; maritime pine | HI | HALE | UHI, JS |
Volunteer |
| Pinus pinea | Italian stone pine | CA | FC, TNC |
Volunteer | |
| Pinus ponderosa | Ponderosa pine | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pinus radiata | Monterey pine | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pinus strobus | white pine | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pinus sylvestris | Scotch pine; scots pine | HI, IA, MA, ME, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VT, WI | HALE | JS, SR, UHI, WIDNR |
Volunteer |
| Pinus thunbergii | black pine | DE, RI, VA | COLO | DNREC, JS, PERT, VADCR |
Volunteer |
| Pistia stratiotes | Nile cabbage; water lettuce | DE, FL, TX | DE, FC, FLEPPC, TNC |
Volunteer | |
| Pithecellobium dulce | blackbead; guayamochil; Madras thorn; monkeypod | FL, HI | UHI, SR |
Volunteer | |
| Pittosporum undulatum | Australian cheesewood | CA | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Pityrogramma calomelanos | Dixie silver-back fern | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Plantago australis | dwarf plantain | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Plantago lanceolata | English plantain; lance-leaved plantain | AZ, CA, HI, MD, MI, NJ, TN, UT, VA | DEVA, HALE, MONO, YELL | AAPR, NJDA, JS |
Volunteer |
| Plantago major | common plantain; broad-leaved plantain | AZ, CA, HI, MD, MI, NJ, TN, UT, VA | ANTI, CHIR, DEVA, HALE, MONO, YELL | AAPR, NJDA, JS |
Volunteer |
| Pluchea carolinensis | cure-for-all; sepi; sourbush | HI | HALE | JS, UHI |
Volunteer |
| Pluchea indica | Indian camphorweed | HI | UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Poa annua | annual bluegrass | AZ, CA, HI, MI, TN, UT | DEVA, FOBO, HALE, YELL | AAPR, JS |
Volunteer |
| Poa bulbosa | bulbous bluegrass | MI | YELL | AAPR |
Volunteer |
| Poa compressa | Canada bluegrass | CA, CT, MI, NE, OR, PA, TN, VA, WA, WI, WV | DEVA, COLO, HAFE, YELL | AAPR, CIPWG, FC, JS, PNWEPPC, TL, TNC, VADCR, WIDNR |
Volunteer |
| Poa trivialis | rough bluegrass | VA | COLO | JS, VADCR |
Volunteer |
| Polycarpon tetraphyllum | fourleaf manyseed | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum argyrocoleon | silver-sheathed knotweed | CA, NV | DEVA, LAME | JS |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum caespitosum | Oriental lady's thumb | CT, KY, MD, MI, TN, VA, WV | ANTI, COLO, HAFE, RICH, SHEN, STRI | AAPR, CIPWG, FC, KYEPPC, JS, VADCR |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum capitatum | pinkhead smartweed | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum convolvulus | black bindweed | AZ, HI, MI, SD | BADL, FOBO, HALE | AAPR, JS |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum cuspidatum | Japanese knotweed; Mexican bamboo | AK, CT, DC, DE, GA, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV | ACAD, BLRI, CHOH, COLO, CUYA, DEWA, GRSM, INDU, MONO, NACE, PETE, PRWI, ROCR, SHEN, STRI | AAPR, CIPWG, DNREC, EU, FC, FSAK, GAEPPC, INPAWS, IPCNYS, KYEPPC, MDCES, MDDNR, MODOC, NHISC, NJDA, JS, NPSO, NWRA, PNWEPPC, PADCNR, PERT, RINHS, TL, TNC, TNEPPC, VADCR, VTDEC, WI, WIDNR |
Yes |
| Polygonum densiflorum | dense-flpwer knotweed; kamole | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum lapathifolium | curlytop knotweed | TX, UT | YELL | JS |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum orientale | kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate; prince's-feather; princess feather | MI, NJ | AAPR, NJDA |
Volunteer | |
| Polygonum perfoliatum | Asiatic tearthumb; Devil's-tail tearthumb; mile-a-minute vine; mile-a-minute weed | CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV | CATO, GWMP, HAFE, MIMA, MONO, NACE, ROCR, SHEN, THST | CIPWG, DNREC, FC, IPCNYS, MDCES, MDDNR, NJDA, JS, PADCNR, PERT, TL, VADCR, WIDNR |
Yes |
| Polygonum persicaria | spotted ladysthumb | KY, MD, MI, TN, UT, VA | ANTI, MONO, SHEN, STRI | AAPR, KYEPPC, JS |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum polystachyum | cultivated knotweed; Himalyan knotweed | OR, WA | FC, PNWEPPC |
Volunteer | |
| Polygonum punctatum | dotted smartweed | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Polygonum sachalinense | giant knotweed; Sakhalian knotweed | IL, MD, MI, NC, OR, RI, WA, WI | BLRI | AAPR, EU, FC, MDDNR, JS, NPSO, PNWEPPC, RINHS, WIDNR |
Volunteer |
| Polypogon monspeliensis | rabbitfoot grass | AZ, NV, UT | CHIR, LAME, ORPI, YELL | JS |
Volunteer |
| Polypogon viridis | beardless rabbit's- foot grass; water bentgrass | AZ, CA, TX, UT | CHIR, DEVA, FOBO, LAME, ORPI | JS |
Volunteer |
| Poncirus trifoliata | trifoliate orange; hardy orange | FL, GA, LA, MS, SC, TX, WV | VICK | SR |
Volunteer |
| Populus alba | white poplar | CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, MT, NV, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY | COLO, DINO, GRSM, KIMO, PETE | AAPR, CIPWG, FC, KYEPPC, MDDNR, JS, PERT, PNWEPPC, SR, TNC, VADCR, VTDEC, WIDNR |
Yes |
| Populus balsamifera | balsam poplar; balm of Gilead | TN | JS |
Volunteer | |
| Populus nigra | black poplar; Lombardy poplar | MI, ND | AAPR, FC, SR, TNC |
Volunteer | |
| Populus tremula | European aspen | MS | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Populus x canescens | gray poplar | MS, WI | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Portulaca oleracea | common purslane; little hogweed | AZ, CA, HI, IL, NV, TN, UT | CHIR, DEVA, HALE, LAME, YELL | EU, FC, JS |
Volunteer |
| Potamogeton crispus | curly-leaf pondweed | AZ, CT, NH, NJ, NV, NY, VT, WI | LAME | CT, FC, IPCNYS, NHISC, NJDA, JS, VTDEC, WI, WIDNR |
Volunteer |
| Potentilla recta | sulfur cinquefoil | CO, ID, MD, MT, OR, WA, WY | MONO, ROMO, YELL | FC, JS, PNWEPPC, TNC |
Volunteer |
| Pouteria campechiana | canistel; eggfruit tree | FL | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Prosopis pallida | algarrabo; kiawe | HI | UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Prunella vulgaris | self-heal | HI, MI | HALE | AAPR, JS |
Volunteer |
| Prunus avium | bird cherry | DE, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, TN, VA, WA | MANA | FC, MDDNR, JS, NPSO, PNWEPPC, PERT, SR, TNC |
Volunteer |
| Prunus cerasifera | cherry plum | OR | NPSO |
Volunteer | |
| Prunus cerasus | sour cherry | CA, KY, MD, NC, NY, OR, WA, WV | FC, PNWEPPC, SR |
Volunteer | |
| Prunus domestica | garden plum; European plum | IN, MI, OR | NPSO, SR |
Volunteer | |
| Prunus laurocerasus | cherry-laurel | OR, WA | FC, NPSO, PNWEPPC, SR |
Volunteer | |
| Prunus lusitanica | Portugal laurel | OR, WA | NPSO, SR |
Volunteer | |
| Prunus mahaleb | Mahaleb cherry; perfumed cherry | DC, ID, IL, MO, OR, PA, WA | FC, MODOC, PNWEPPC, SR |
Volunteer | |
| Prunus padus | European bird-cherry | AK, AL, PA | FSAK, SR |
Volunteer | |
| Prunus persica | peach | AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Prunus spinosa | blackthorn | OR | NPSO |
Volunteer | |
| Pseudelephantopus spicatus | dog's-tongue | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum | Jersey rabbit-tobacco, Jersey cudweed | NV | LAME | JS |
Volunteer |
| Pseudosasa japonica | arrow bamboo | MD, PA, WV | HAFE | MDDNR, PERT |
Volunteer |
| Pseudotsuga menziesii | Douglas fir | HI | HALE | JS |
Volunteer |
| Psidium cattleianum | strawberry guava | FL, HI | HALE | ABS, FC, FLEPPC, JS, UHI, TNC |
Yes |
| Psidium guajava | common guava | FL, HI | HALE | ABS, FC, FLEPPC, JS, SR, TNC, UHI |
Volunteer |
| Pueraria montana var. lobata | kudzu-vine | AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MO, MS, NC, ND, NJ, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV | BLRI, BOWA, CHOH, COLO, GRSM, HAFE, KIMO, NACE, ROCR, SHEN, THRO, VICK | CIPWG, DNREC, FC, FLEPPC, GAEPPC, GMRP, INPAWS, KYEPPC, MDCES, MDDNR, MODOC, NCDPR, NJDA, JS, NPSO, PADCNR, TL, TNC, TNEPPC, VADCR |
Yes |
| Punica granatum | pomegranate | CA | SR |
Volunteer | |
| Pyracantha angustifolia | narrowleaf firethorn | CA, HI, OR | NPSO, SR, UHI |
Volunteer | |
| Pyracantha coccinea | scarlet firethorn | OR | NPSO |
Volunteer | |
| Pyrus calleryana | Bradford pear, Callery pear | IL, MD, PA | STRI | EU, MDCES, PADCNR |
Volunteer |
| Pyrus communis | common pear | OR | TNC |
Volunteer | |
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Comments, suggestions, and questions about the website should be directed to the webmaster.
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/list/p.htm
Last updated: 25-Feb-2008