Georgia's Top Ten Exotic Pest Plants

(List compiled by the GA-EPPC and the Bugwood Network. Profiles are by the author)

Pueraria montana(Lour.) Merr. (a.k.a. Kudzu)

Kudzu is a three leaf deciduous vine that was introduced to the US that grows to 35-100 feet. It is capable of extending over 60 feet a season, at around 1 foot a day. Kudzu will flower from June to September. Besides dogwoods and magnolia, this is the plant that is most associated with the Southern landscape. It is the plant that is eating the South.

Ligustrum sinense Lour. (a.k.a.Chinese Privet)

Chinese privet is a perennial tree or shrub depending how you prune that will grow to 30 feet and flowers from April to June.

Lonicera japonica Thunb. (a.k.a. Japanese Honeysuckle)

Japanese Honeysuckle is a perennial vine that grows to 80 feet and flowers from April to August. This takes over everything and is a favorite bee hangout.

Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle (a.k.a Hydrilla)

The hydrilla plant is found in water and grows to 25 feet long. It does flower with tiny white blooms. Careful: This plant has been linked to increasing the death toll of the bald eagle.

Triadica sebiferum (L.) Small (a.k.a. Chinese Tallow Tree)

Chinese tallow tree is a deciduous tree that grows to 60 feet. It will flower from April to June.

Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus (a.k.a. Nepalese Browntop)

Nepalese browntop is an annual grass that grows from a half foot to 3 feet and flowers from August to October. It has an interested character look to it, a nice looking ornamental grass but a pest plant all the same.

Phyllostachys aurea Carr. ex A. & C. Riviere (a.k.a.Golden Bamboo)

Golden bamboo is a perennial shrub that is highly invasive and will take over much that is it near. Golden Bamboo will grow from 16-40 feet and rarely flowers.

Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.(a.k.a. Autumn olive, Silverberry)

Autumn olive is a deciduous perennial shrub that grows 3-20 feet and flowers from February to June.

Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC. (a.k.a. Chinese Wisteria)