Weed vs. Invasive Plant
Weeds vs. Invasive Plants
We’re often asked: what’s the difference between weeds and invasive plants? They’re both unwanted, often tough to remove, and we offer tips for control and extermination for both. With so many overlaps, it can be confusing to tell the difference. We’re here to help spell out what makes a weed a weed, what makes an invasive plant an invader, and how to tell the difference.
What is a weed?
Weed is a general term to describe any plant growing in an undesirable place. It can be invasive or native, harmless but unsightly, or they can be harmful to crops, gardens, and animals. They’re usually introduced to an area on accident, and usually require human disturbance to spread. In any case, a weed is simply any plant growing where you don’t want it.
What are invasive plants?
The biggest characteristic of an invasive plant is that it’s not native to the environment it’s in. As a result, there are no natural means of inhibiting their growth, leading them to run rampant over an ecosystem. They can be introduced to an area on accident, but are often brought to an area on purpose for medical, aesthetic, or agricultural purposes.
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Noxious weeds
“Noxious weed” is a legal designation given to plants that are considered dangerous to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or property. These can be native weeds or non-native invasive plants, but they’re always up to no good. Consider these the “America’s Most Wanted” of plant life—always be on the lookout for them, and help us do our part in curbing their spread.
Curious to learn more?
See a plant you’re iffy about? Check out our Invasive Plant Database to identify it on your own, or submit a picture and we’ll help you out. Report an invasive plant infestation on our website to help us keep our environment safe.
Sources
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74139.html
https://www.blm.gov/programs/weeds-and-invasives/about
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=44194
https://www.montana.edu/extension/ipm/cropweeds/resources/is-this-superweed.html
https://wssa.net/wp-content/uploads/WSSA-Weed-Science-Definitions.pdf