A weed is a plant out of place. Invasive plants are a special type of weed.

Invasive plants are introduced species that can thrive in areas beyond their natural range of dispersal. These plants are characteristically adaptable, aggressive, and have a high reproductive capacity. Their vigor combined with a lack of natural enemies often leads to outbreak populations.  

Exotic Invasive plants are from a different part of the world and so are very out of place. In their native location something limits their growth such as competition from other plants or insects that eat them. This competition is absent from your lawn and garden so they can grow unchecked and cause a big problem.

The plant does not have to be from another country to be an exotic invasive plant.  Plants from a different part of the United States can sometimes become invasive if transplanted to a different part. 

Controlling invasive plants is a part of integrated lawn and garden pest management.

Invasive plants are non-native plants that:

• grow aggressively or spread rapidly
• displace or out compete other plants, causing harm to our natural areas
• primarily exotic plants - those that originated in another part of the country or world