Whether you’re on a hike, on the water, or driving by an open field, there are plenty of plants you might be admiring that are actually invasive. Trying to start your own pollinator garden at home? Native pollinators can often only survive on certain plants, so letting invasive plants take over your yard could actually end up limiting their food sources.

Here to give you the rundown on 14 of Wisconsin’s most invasive plant species—plus tips for how you could save on

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The top 10 invasive plant species in Wisconsin

While some are more harmful than others, species are usually deemed invasive because they pose a threat to the local environment in some way. Sometimes a lack of natural predators means they can outcompete native species that other wildlife depend on. Other times, they pose health and safety threats to humans or animals.

Here’s a look at ten of Wisconsin's invasive plant species on land.

1. Wild parsnip

Scientific name:Pastinaca sativa

What it looks like: Tall stems topped with flat-top clusters of curving rods hold up tiny yellow flowers; can easily be mistaken for native golden alexander plant

Why it’s a problem: While it’s related to carrots and parsley, you won’t want to snack on wild parsnip. Not only does this plant crowd out native species, but it also contains a toxic sap. When it’s exposed to the skin, it can create painful rashes and blisters that get worse with exposure to sunlight.

What to do: Wild parsnip may be pretty, but there are plenty of native species that are just as lovely and quite similar in appearance, like the golden alexander.

To get rid of wild parsnip, you can cut the base of the flowering stem before seeds develop—just be sure to wear protective gear to avoid the sap. Severe problem patches are sometimes treated with a combination of burning and spot treatment of herbicide.

2. Poison hemlock

Scientific name: Conium maculatum

What it looks like: A forb that can grow up to 8 feet tall, has a purple-and-green-speckled stem, and sprouts clusters of small, white flowers

Why it’s a problem: Though it might be part of the carrot family, this is not a plant you want on your dinner plate. From top to bottom, nearly every part of this plant is poisonous. For humans, livestock, and wildlife alike, consuming it can be deadly.

What to do: The key to avoiding a poison hemlock outbreak is to contain it early. If attempting to hoe or remove poison hemlock by the band, be sure to wear gloves, long sleeves, and protective eye gear to protect yourself from its sap. It’s important to make sure to get its roots as well, otherwise, it could regrow.

For larger patches of poison hemlock, spot application of the right type of herbicide is also a possibility.

Avoid mowing down or burning poison hemlock, as breathing it in could prove problematic.

3. Common buckthorn

Scientific name:Rhamnus cathartica

What it looks like: Thorny shrub with toothed leaves that produces purplish-blue berries

Why it’s a problem: In Wisconsin, common buckthorn is meant to be anything but common. It tends to densely populate the areas where it grows and crowds out species that other wildlife depend on.

What to do: Dig up young shrubs and keep an eye out for potential re-sprouting. Cut more mature shrubs down with a saw. The remaining stump can be treated with chemicals or covered with an object like a bucket for an extended period of time to keep it from resprouting.

4. Musk thistle

Scientific name:Carduus nutans

What it looks like: A tall, thorny plant that blooms into bright purple flowers

Why it’s a problem: The musk thistle can quite literally become a thorn in a gardener’s side. Like many other invasive species, it tends to crowd out native plants.

What to do: To get rid of musk thistles, it’s easiest to catch them early and pull them out from the base, making sure you get the root. Don’t forget protective gloves!

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5. Black locust tree

Scientific name: Robinia pseudoacacia

What it looks like: Medium-sized deciduous tree with hanging clusters of white flowers

Why it’s a problem: The black locust tree is native to certain portions of the southern and eastern United States, but it’s considered invasive in Wisconsin. While it looks beautiful in bloom and its durable wood is popular for purposes like making quality furniture, it can become a problem in overtaking more open prairie and savanna habitats.

Another issue is that its bark, wood, and leaves are toxic to humans and animals.

What to do: Want to plant a flowering tree in your own yard? Consider a native option like a juneberry or a willow instead.

6. Garlic mustard

Scientific name:Alliaria petiolata

What it looks like: A tall plant that can grow to be 12 to 24 inches high, with toothed leaves and crowned by a cluster of small, white flowers at the top

Why it’s a problem: Garlic mustard is native to portions of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but in North America, this plant has been problematic in crowding out native species, particularly in wooded areas. It also has properties that are toxic to the larvae of certain butterfly species.

What to do: Uproot garlic mustard when you identify it, or simply clip or pull off its seedlings. For large established patches of garlic mustard, spot-treating with the right herbicide or treating with fire at the right time of year where appropriate are options.

7. Orange daylily

Scientific name:Hemerocallis fulva

What it looks like: A bright orange lily with yellow streaks at the center of its petals. Like other lilies, they can be extremely toxic toward cats and sometimes dogs.

Why it’s a problem: Beautiful as it might be, this plant can easily crowd out other native species.

What to do: You’ll need to completely uproot orange daylilies to keep them from resprouting.

8. Smooth brome

Scientific name:Bromus inermis

What it looks like: A tall grass with wheat-colored spikelets at the top; yellow stamens dangle like ornaments from the spikelets

Why it’s a problem: In a collage of prairie grasses, smooth brome might appear to blend in with the crowd, but it’s actually native to Europe and can outcompete native grass species.

What to do: If you’re looking to incorporate native grasses into your landscaping, look to native options like big bluestem or switchgrass. It’s hard to keep smooth brome under control since it’s a rhizomatous plant and many treatment options would also harm native species. Sometimes it’s spot-treated with herbicide.

9. Narrow-leaf and hybrid cattails

Scientific name:Typha angustifolia

What it looks like: A thin, green stem with a corn dog stuck on top

Why it’s a problem: Broad-leaf cattails are native to Wisconsin, but narrow-leaf and hybrid cattails are not. The latter two are particularly aggressive when it comes to competing with other native species. They’re rhizomatous, so they can crowd out other plants quickly.

What to do: Distinguishing these cattails from narrow-leaf and hybrid cattails can be difficult, so if you think you have some on your property, it may be worth asking for an expert’s opinion. One method of getting invasive cattails under control is cutting off the stem at the right time, then flooding its area with water, which ends up drowning the plant.

10. Queen Anne’s lace

Scientific name:Daucus carota

What it looks like: Tall flowering plant that holds clusters of white flowers

Why it’s a problem: Queen Anne’s lace is a common sight in open fields and roadside ditches, so it’s surprising to some to learn they’re not native to Wisconsin. But that’s also the point—this flowering plant, native to Europe and Asia, can crowd out other native plants. Believed to be an ancestor of the modern carrot, the root is edible (but not tasty by most people’s standards) when the plant is young, but its leaves can also irritate some people’s skin.

What to do: Herbicides aren’t very successful on Queen Anne’s lace since it can germinate throughout the year, so you’ll usually have to get it under control with some dedicated weeding and hoeing.

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The four most invasive aquatic plants in Wisconsin

Though they may be more difficult to spot, plenty of invasive plants are lurking in Wisconsin’s waters, too—which is why it’s important to thoroughly inspect and clean your water equipment before starting or ending a day on the river or lake.

When it comes to getting invasive aquatic species under control, it’s recommended that you contact your local Department of Natural Resources (DNR) office to report sightings before attempting to remove them so you can set up a plan that limits the unintentional spread and avoids harming other native aquatic species.

1. Eurasian watermilfoil

Scientific name:Myriophyllum spicatum

What it looks like: White to reddish stem with green feathery leaves and produces pink and yellow flowers; looks similar to other native species like northern watermilfoil

Why it’s a problem: Eurasian watermilfoil outcompetes essential native aquatic plants and isn’t a suitable shelter or food source for certain aquatic life.

2. Brittle water nymph

Scientific name:Najas minor

What it looks like: Green to greenish-brown with long, thin, leaves that are serrated and have sharp tips

Why it’s a problem: Brittle water nymph densely packs areas where it’s established, leaving little space for native species.

3. Curly-leaf pondweed

Scientific name:Potamogeton crispus

What it looks like: Reddish-brown to dark green underwater plant with toothed leaves and flowers that appear reddish-brown in the water, but are actually more green; can appear similar to native pondweed species

Why it’s a problem: Curly-leaf pondweed crowds out other native aquatic plant life.

4. Water hyacinth

Scientific name:Eichhornia crassipes

What it looks like: Floating plast with green, shiny leaves; has clusters of lavender flowers with a splash of yellow and blue inside

Why it’s a problem: Water hyacinth flowers can be breathtaking. But the plant grows quickly, and the way it sprawls out over the water’s surface blocks sunlight needed by native species found underwater.

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