Trees


Trees are perennial, woody plants with a single stem (trunk), normally greater than 13 to 16 ft. (4 to 5 m.) in height. Under certain environmental conditions, some tree species may develop a multi-stemmed or short growth form of less than 13 ft. (4 m.) in height. The following species have been reported to be invasive in natural areas in the U.S. Species native to the U.S. are included when they are invasive in areas well outside their known natural ranges, as a result of human activities. For more information on each species, including the listing sources, images, and distribution maps, click on the species.

273 Species

Subject Name Scientific Name Family U.S. Nativity
ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa P.& C. Lawson Pinaceae Native
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana L. Cupressaceae
princesstree Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud. Scrophulariaceae Exotic
Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco Pinaceae Native
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Michx. Salicaceae Native
eastern white pine Pinus strobus L. Pinaceae Native
melaleuca Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) Blake Myrtaceae Exotic
Japanese maple Acer palmatum Thunb. Sapindaceae Exotic
Norway maple Acer platanoides L. Sapindaceae Exotic
tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima (P. Mill.) Swingle Simaroubaceae Exotic
mimosa Albizia julibrissin Durazz. Fabaceae Exotic
camphortree Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl Lauraceae Exotic
Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Elaeagnaceae Exotic
Japanese privet Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. Oleaceae Exotic
Chinese privet Ligustrum sinense Lour. Oleaceae Exotic
chinaberry Melia azedarach L. Meliaceae Exotic
white poplar Populus alba L. Salicaceae Exotic
common buckthorn, European buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica L. Rhamnaceae Exotic
Chinese tallowtree Triadica sebifera (L.) Small Euphorbiaceae Exotic
Port Orford cedar Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl. Cupressaceae Native
incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin Cupressaceae Native
Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf. Pinaceae Native
Austrian pine Pinus nigra Arnold Pinaceae Exotic
Monterey pine Pinus radiata D. Don Pinaceae Native
Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. Pinaceae Exotic
boxelder Acer negundo L. Sapindaceae Native
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra Willd. Hippocastanaceae Native
European black alder Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. Betulaceae Exotic
Australian-pine Casuarina equisetifolia L. Casuarinaceae Exotic
trumpet-tree Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol. Cecropiaceae Exotic
Tasmanian bluegum Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Myrtaceae Exotic
swampmahogany Eucalyptus robusta Sm. Myrtaceae Exotic
silkoak Grevillea robusta A. Cunningham ex R. Br. Proteaceae Exotic
osage-orange Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid. Moraceae Native
raintree Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. Fabaceae Exotic
balsam poplar Populus balsamifera L. Salicaceae Native
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata Michx. Salicaceae Native
kiawe Prosopis pallida (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth Fabaceae Exotic
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia L. Fabaceae
white cedar Tabebuia heterophylla (DC.) Britt. Bignoniaceae Native
common horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum L. Hippocastanaceae Exotic
Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. Pinaceae Exotic
Japanese cedar Cryptomeria japonica (L. f.) D. Don Cupressaceae Exotic
Siberian elm Ulmus pumila L. Ulmaceae Exotic
Senegal date palm Phoenix reclinata Jacq. Arecaceae Exotic
date palm Phoenix dactylifera L. Arecaceae Exotic
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa (Warder) Warder ex Engelm. Bignoniaceae Native
Amur maple Acer ginnala Maxim. Sapindaceae Exotic
prickly-ash Zanthoxylum americanum P. Mill. Rutaceae Native
smooth sumac Rhus glabra L. Anacardiaceae Native
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea L. Cornaceae Native
willow Salix spp. L. Salicaceae
Italian stone pine Pinus pinea L. Pinaceae Exotic
earleaf acacia Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunningham ex Benth. Fabaceae Exotic
small Philippine acacia Acacia confusa Merr Fabaceae Exotic
black acacia Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. ex Ait. f. Fabaceae Exotic
black wattle Acacia mearnsii de Wildeman. Fabaceae Exotic
red beadtree Adenanthera pavonina L Fabaceae Exotic
woman's tongue tree Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth Fabaceae Exotic
deviltree Alstonia macrophylla Wallich ex G. Don Apocynaceae Exotic
shoebutton ardisia Ardisia elliptica Thunb Primulaceae Exotic
mountain ebony Bauhinia variegata L Fabaceae Exotic
Javanese bishopwood Bischofia javanica Blume Euphorbiaceae Exotic
plume poppy Bocconia frutescens L. Papaveraceae Native
oriental mangrove Bruguiera sexangula (Lour.) Poir. Rhizophoraceae Exotic
paper-mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. Moraceae Exotic
Antilles calophyllum Calophyllum antillanum Britt Clusiaceae Native
river sheoak Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq. Casuarinaceae Exotic
Panama rubbertree Castilla elastica Sessé Moraceae Exotic
gray sheoak Casuarina glauca Sieb. ex Spreng Casuarinaceae Exotic
day jessamine Cestrum diurnum L. Solanaceae Exotic
night jessamine Cestrum nocturnum L. Solanaceae Exotic
satinleaf Chrysophyllum oliviforme L. Sapotaceae Native
padang cassia Cinnamomum burmanni (Nees & Th. Nees) Nees ex Blume Lauraceae Exotic
juniper berry Citharexylum caudatum L. Verbenaceae Native
quinine Cinchona pubescens Vahl Rubiaceae Exotic
spiny fiddlewood Citharexylum spinosum L. Verbenaceae Native
rose glorybower Clerodendrum bungei Steud. Verbenaceae Exotic
stickbush Clerodendrum chinense (Osb.) Mabberley Verbenaceae Exotic
Asian nakedwood Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. Rhamnaceae Exotic
karaka nut Corynocarpus laevigatus J.R. & G. Forst. Corynocarpaceae Exotic
common hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Jacq. Rosaceae Exotic
carrotwood Cupaniopsis anacardioides (A. Rich.) Radlk. Sapindaceae Exotic
spurgelaurel Daphne laureola L. Thymelaeaceae Exotic
Surinam cherry Eugenia uniflora L. Myrtaceae Exotic
peacocksplume Falcataria moluccana (Miquel) Barneby & Grimes Fabaceae Exotic
council tree Ficus altissima Blume Moraceae Exotic
edible fig Ficus carica L. Moraceae Exotic
governor's plum Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr Flacourtiaceae Exotic
glossy buckthorn Frangula alnus Mill. Rhamnaceae Exotic
shamel ash Fraxinus uhdei (Wenzig) Lingelsh Oleaceae Exotic
kahiliflower Grevillea banksii R. Br. Proteaceae Exotic
bloodwoodtree Haematoxylum campechianum L. Fabaceae Exotic
white moho Heliocarpus popayanensis Kunth Tiliaceae Exotic
rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus L. Malvaceae Exotic
sea hibiscus Talipariti tiliaceum var. tiliaceum L. Malvaceae Exotic
English holly Ilex aquifolium L. Aquifoliaceae Exotic
flamegold Koelreuteria elegans ssp. formosana (Hayata) F.G. Mey. Sapindaceae Exotic
white leadtree Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit Fabaceae Exotic
broom teatree Leptospermum scoparium J.R. & G. Forst. Myrtaceae Exotic
fountain palm Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. ex Mart. Arecaceae Exotic
glossy privet Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton Oleaceae Exotic
vinegartree Lophostemon confertus (R. Br.) P.G. Wilson & Waterhouse Myrtaceae Exotic
Asian melastome Melastoma candidum D. Don Melastomataceae Exotic
hierba del soldado Melochia umbellata (Houtt.) Stapf Sterculiaceae Exotic
miconia Miconia calvescens DC. Melastomataceae Exotic
white mulberry Morus alba L. Moraceae Exotic
firetree Morella faya (Ait.) Wilbur Myricaceae Exotic
treedaisy Montanoa hibiscifolia (Benth.) Standl. Asteraceae Exotic
ngaio tree Myoporum laetum G. Forst. Myoporaceae Exotic
tree tobacco Nicotiana glauca Graham Solanaceae Exotic
olive Olea europaea L. Oleaceae Exotic
Honduras pine Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm. Pinaceae Native
maritime pine Pinus pinaster Soland., non Ait. Pinaceae Exotic
Australian cheesewood Pittosporum undulatum Vent. Pittosporaceae Exotic
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. Salicaceae Native
strawberry guava Psidium cattleyanum Sabine Myrtaceae Exotic
guava Psidium guajava L. Myrtaceae Exotic
ptychosperma Ptychosperma elegans (R. Br.) Blume Arecaceae Exotic
red mangrove Rhizophora mangle L. Rhizophoraceae Native
rose myrtle Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk. Myrtaceae Exotic
castorbean Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae Exotic
octopus tree Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.) H.A.T. Harms Araliaceae Exotic
Peruvian peppertree Schinus molle L. Anacardiaceae Exotic
African tuliptree Spathodea campanulata Beauv. Bignoniaceae Exotic
Java plum Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Myrtaceae Exotic
Malabar plum Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston Myrtaceae Exotic
African tamarisk Tamarix africana Poir. Tamaricaceae Exotic
Athel tamarisk Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. Tamaricaceae Exotic
French tamarisk Tamarix gallica L. Tamaricaceae Exotic
smallflower tamarisk Tamarix parviflora DC. Tamaricaceae Exotic
saltcedar Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. Tamaricaceae Exotic
tropical almond Terminalia catappa L. Combretaceae Exotic
portia tree Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland. ex Correa Malvaceae Exotic
princess-flower Tibouchina urvilleana (DC.) Cogn. Melastomataceae Exotic
Australian redcedar Toona ciliata Roemer Meliaceae Exotic
oriental trema Trema orientalis (L.) Blume Ulmaceae Exotic
Chinese elm Ulmus parvifolia Jacq. Ulmaceae Exotic
tungoil tree Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy-Shaw Euphorbiaceae Exotic
wayfaringtree Viburnum lantana L. Adoxaceae Exotic
cranberry viburnum, European highbush cranberry Viburnum opulus ssp. opulus Linnaeus Adoxaceae Exotic
Chinese holly Ilex cornuta Lindl. & Paxton Aquifoliaceae Exotic
crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia indica L. Lythraceae Exotic
European mountain-ash Sorbus aucuparia L. Rosaceae Exotic
English oak Quercus robur L. Fagaceae Exotic
fivestamen tamarisk Tamarix chinensis Lour. Tamaricaceae Exotic
Siberian peashrub Caragana arborescens Lam. Fabaceae Exotic
sawtooth oak Quercus acutissima Carruthers Fagaceae Exotic
Indian rosewood Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC. Fabaceae Exotic
sapodilla Manilkara zapota (L.) van Royen Sapotaceae Exotic
Australian almond Terminalia muelleri Benth. Combretaceae Exotic
poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch Euphorbiaceae Exotic
Sycamore maple Acer pseudoplatanus L. Sapindaceae Exotic
Callery pear (Bradford pear) Pyrus calleryana Decne. Rosaceae Exotic
privet Ligustrum spp. L. Oleaceae Exotic
southern catalpa Catalpa bignonioides Walt. Bignoniaceae Native
Chinese parasoltree Firmiana simplex (L.) W. Wight Sterculiaceae Exotic
paradise apple Malus pumila P. Mill. Rosaceae Exotic
crabapple and apple Malus spp. P. Mill. Rosaceae
Lombardy poplar Populus nigra L. Salicaceae Exotic
Siebold's arrowwood Viburnum sieboldii Miq. Adoxaceae Exotic
Japanese angelica tree Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem Araliaceae Exotic
European birch Betula pendula Roth Betulaceae Exotic
Chinese catalpa Catalpa ovata G. Don Bignoniaceae Exotic
European spindletree Euonymus europaeus L. Celastraceae Exotic
Japanese holly Ilex crenata Thunb. Aquifoliaceae Exotic
California privet Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk. Oleaceae Exotic
Amur corktree Phellodendron amurense Rupr. Rutaceae Exotic
Japanese corktree Phellodendron japonicum Maxim. Rutaceae Exotic
sweet cherry Prunus avium (L.) L. Rosaceae Exotic
sour cherry Prunus cerasus L. Rosaceae Exotic
Mahaleb cherry Prunus mahaleb L. Rosaceae Exotic
European bird cherry Prunus padus L. Rosaceae Exotic
bristly locust Robinia hispida L. Fabaceae
white willow Salix alba L. Salicaceae Exotic
large gray willow Salix cinerea L. Salicaceae Exotic
crack willow Salix fragilis L. Salicaceae Exotic
laurel willow Salix pentandra L. Salicaceae Exotic
purpleosier willow Salix purpurea L. Salicaceae Exotic
weeping willow Salix x sepulcralis Simonkai [alba × babylonica] Salicaceae Exotic
Japanese yew Taxus cuspidata Sieb. & Zucc. Taxaceae Exotic
Seifriz's chamaedorea Chamaedorea seifrizii Burret Arecaceae Exotic
common filbert Corylus avellana L. Betulaceae Exotic
common pear Pyrus communis L. Rosaceae Exotic
European crabapple Malus sylvestris P. Mill. Rosaceae Exotic
European aspen Populus tremula L. Salicaceae Exotic
plum Prunus domestica L. Rosaceae Exotic
orange Citrus x sinensis (L.) Osbeck (pro sp.) [maxima × reticulata] Rutaceae Exotic
lime Citrus x aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle Rutaceae Exotic
lemon Citrus x limon (L.) Osbeck Rutaceae Exotic
cherry plum Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. Rosaceae Exotic
Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw. ex Gord. Cupressaceae Native
hedge maple Acer campestre L. Sapindaceae Exotic
Indian coralbean Erythrina variegata L. Fabaceae Exotic
osier Salix viminalis L. Salicaceae Exotic
English elm Ulmus procera Salisb. Ulmaceae Exotic
cootamundra wattle Acacia baileyana F. Muell. Fabaceae Exotic
river redgum Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnhardt Myrtaceae Exotic
Indian rubberplant Ficus elastica Roxb. Moraceae Exotic
Sydney golden wattle Acacia longifolia (Andr.) Willd. Fabaceae Exotic
everblooming acacia Acacia retinodes Schlecht. Fabaceae Exotic
Alexandrian laurel Calophyllum inophyllum L. Clusiaceae Exotic
papaya Carica papaya L. Caricaceae Exotic
Deodar cedar Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D. Don) G. Don f. Pinaceae Exotic
sour orange Citrus x aurantium L. (pro sp.) [maxima × reticulata] Rutaceae Exotic
Javanese glorybower Clerodendrum speciosissimum Van Geert ex Morr. Verbenaceae Exotic
bladder senna Colutea arborescens L. Fabaceae Exotic
red manjack Cordia collococca L. Boraginaceae Native
Chinese fir Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. Taxodiaceae Exotic
Arizona cypress Cupressus arizonica Greene Cupressaceae Native
Cooper's cyathea Cyathea cooperi (Hook. ex F. Muell.) Domin Cyatheaceae Exotic
black peppermint Eucalyptus salicifolia (Sol.) Cav. Myrtaceae Exotic
redbox Eucalyptus polyanthemos Schauer Myrtaceae Exotic
forest redgum Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. Myrtaceae Exotic
Queensland maple Flindersia brayleyana F. Muell. Rutaceae Exotic
East Indian almond Terminalia myriocarpa van Heurck & Muell.-Arg. Combretaceae Exotic
purple mombin Spondias purpurea L. Anacardiaceae Exotic
glossy shower Senna surattensis (Burm. f.) Irwin & Barneby Fabaceae Exotic
hedionda macho Senna septemtrionalis (Viviani) Irwin & Barneby Fabaceae Exotic
Wisconsin weeping willow Salix x pendulina Wenderoth [babylonica × fragilis] Salicaceae Exotic
goldenrain tree Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. Sapindaceae Exotic
Siberian crabapple Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. Rosaceae Exotic
Japanese flowering crabapple Malus floribunda Sieb. Ex Van Houtte Rosaceae Exotic
plumleaf crabapple Malus prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh. Rosaceae Exotic
pomegranate Punica granatum L. Punicaceae Exotic
blackthorn Prunus spinosa L. Rosaceae Exotic
Portugal laurel Prunus lusitanica L. Rosaceae Exotic
cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus L. Rosaceae Exotic
mango Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae Exotic
ceara rubbertree Manihot glaziovii Muell.-Arg. Euphorbiaceae Exotic
oleander Nerium oleander L. Apocynaceae Exotic
canistel Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni Sapotaceae Exotic
gray poplar Populus x canescens (Ait.) Sm. (pro sp.) [alba × tremula] Salicaceae Exotic
African olive Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata (Wall. ex G. Don) Ciferri Oleaceae Exotic
plume albizia Paraserianthes lophantha (Willd.) I. Nielsen Fabaceae Exotic
monkeypod Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. Fabaceae Exotic
avocado Persea americana P. Mill. Lauraceae Exotic
Coulter pine Pinus coulteri D. Don Pinaceae Native
tall lodgepole pine Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson Pinaceae Native
Washington fan palm Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl. Arecaceae Exotic
Taiwanese cheesewood Pittosporum pentandrum (Blanco) Merr. Pittosporaceae Exotic
Chinese pistache Pistacia chinensis Bunge Anacardiaceae Exotic
Washington hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum (L. f.) Medik. Rosaceae Native
Chinese crab apple Malus hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehder Rosaceae
winter-flowering cherry Prunus subhirtella Miq. Rosaceae Exotic
weeping willow Salix babylonica L. Salicaceae Exotic
queen palm Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman Arecaceae Exotic
trumpet tree Cecropia palmata Willd. Cecropiaceae Exotic
Japanese zelkova Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino Ulmaceae Exotic
gray dogwood Cornus racemosa Lam. Cornaceae Native
bottlebrush Callistemon viminalis (Gaertn.)G.Don ex Loudon Myrtaceae Exotic
trifoliate orange Citrus trifoliata (L.) Raf. Rutaceae Exotic
Arabian coffee Coffea arabica L. Rubiaceae Exotic
Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii Parl. Pinaceae Exotic
European cranberrybush Viburnum opulus L. Adoxaceae Exotic
burgan Kunzea ericoides (A. Rich.) J. Thomp. Myrtaceae Exotic
Japanese pagoda tree Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott Fabaceae Exotic
Australian teatree Leptospermum laevigatum (Sol. ex Gaertn.) F. Muell. Myrtaceae Exotic
bee-bee tree Tetradium daniellii (Benn.) T.G. Hartley Rutaceae Exotic
castor aralia Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.) Koidz Araliaceae Exotic
Chilean jessamine Cestrum parqui L'Hér. Solanaceae Exotic
Chinese banyan Ficus microcarpa L. f. Moraceae Exotic
golden wattle Acacia pycnantha Benth. Fabaceae Exotic
Lavalle corktree Phellodendron lavallei Dode Rutaceae Exotic
Madagascar olive Noronhia emarginata (Lam.) Hook Oleaceae Exotic
mayten Maytenus boaria Molina Celastraceae Exotic
orange wattle Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl. f. Fabaceae Exotic
sugargum Eucalyptus cladocalyx F. Muell. Myrtaceae Exotic
orange jessamine Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack Rutaceae Exotic
weeping Higan cherry Prunus subhirtella var. pendula Y. Tanaka Rosaceae Exotic
black mangrove Lumnitzera racemosa Willd. Combretaceae Exotic
birch-leaf pear Pyrus betulifolia Bunge Rosaceae Exotic
Brazilian peppertree Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi Anacardiaceae Exotic

Please cite as: Swearingen, J., C. Bargeron. 2016 Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/.