Priority Species
Here is a list of priority Invasive Species in the Central Coast
Blueweed
Blueweed (Echium vulgare) is a biennial to short-lived perennial, and considered regionally noxious under the BC Weed Control Act. Blueweed is commonly found on...learn more
Burdock
Common burdock (Arctium minus) is a tall, invasive biennial herb known for clinging burs that were not only the inspiration for Velcro, but also for lowering the...learn more
Canada Thistle
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a root-creeping perennial. Thickets of thistle crowd out forage grasses in pastures and rangelands, reducing crop yields and productivity. ...learn more
Common Tansy
Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a perennial and considered regionally noxious under the BC Weed Control Act. Common tansy is currently distributed in...learn more
Dalmatian Toadflax
Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria genistifolia ssp. dalmatica) is an attractive, hardy perennial plant that can withstand cooler weather and is toxic to animals, though poisoning is rare...learn more
English Ivy
English ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen vine that is recognized as a serious, smothering invasive in much of southwestern BC. It is commonly planted to...learn more
Field Scabious
Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) is a perennial plant that competes with forage and pasture land, and is also found along roadsides at mid-elevations of the province. Once...learn more
Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an exotic-looking annual that has pink, helmet-shaped flowers (also known as "policeman’s helmet”), rapid growth, and an entertaining mode of...learn more
Himalayan Blackberry
Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) is mostly a biennial plant, growing on disturbed sites, along roadsides and rights-of-ways, in pastures, along river and stream banks, fresh-water wetlands,...learn more
Hoary Alyssum
Hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana) is an annual to short-lived perennial. Considered regionally noxious under the BC Weed Control Act, hoary alyssum is most...learn more
Knotweeds
Knotweeds (Polygonum spp.) are invasive perennials, with four species found in British Columbia: Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica); Bohemian knotweed (Fallopia x bohemica);...learn more
Marsh Plume Thistle
Marsh plume thistle (Cirsium palustre) is a biennial and considered regionally noxious under the BC Weed Control Act. The majority of sites are...learn more
Mountain Bluet
Mountain bluet (Centaurea montana) is a popular ornamental plant; its ability to self-seed and large blue flowers make it the top choice among many gardeners. Unfortunately, once planted,...learn more
Orange Hawkweed
Hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.) are perennial plants with 14 non-native species recorded in BC, and are difficult to identify among the 8 native hawkweed species. One of the 14 non-native...learn more
Oxeye Daisy
Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) is a short-lived perennial that decreases forage for wildlife, decreases local plant biodiversity, and may compromise vegetative ground cover due to...learn more
Scentless Chamomile
Scentless chamomile (Matricaria maritima) is an annual to short-lived perennial. Considered noxious under the BC Weed Control Act, scentless chamomile is commonly found...learn more
Scotch Broom
Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is an escaped garden ornamental, common west of the Coast-Cascade Mountains in southwest BC, and is concentrated at the southern end of...learn more
Spotted & Diffuse Knapweed
Spotted (Centaurea biebersteinii) and diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) are biennial to short-lived perennials, and considered regionally noxious under the BC
Spurges (Leafy, Myrtle, Cypress)
Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is a perennial, considered noxious under the BC Weed Control Act, and commonly found at low- to mid-elevations on...learn more
St. John’s Wort
St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a perennial invader of grazed and disturbed lands that creates dense stands, displacing native plant species and reducing available forage for...learn more
Tansy Ragwort
Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a biennial to short-lived perennial. Considered noxious under the BC Weed Control Act, tansy ragwort grows in grazed pastures,...learn more
Yellow Flag Iris
Yellow flag-iris (Iris pseudacorus) is an eye-catching perennial that creates dense stands in wet areas, excluding native wetland species and threatening plant and animal diversity. Yellow...learn more
Yellow Loosestrife
Yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata) plants form a bushy, fast-spreading clump of green leaves, with loose spikes of bright-yellow starry flowers appearing in early to mid-summer....learn more