Weed Identification

Utah Noxious Weed Database

All 53 species on Utah's official noxious weed list, with identification photos, bloom times, habitat information, and control methods.

Class 2
Class 3
Class 4
Class 1A
Class 1B
Showing 53 of 53 species
Common Crupina
Class 1A

Common Crupina

Crupina vulgaris

Common crupina is a highly competitive winter annual that invades rangelands, pastures, an…

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African Rue
Class 1A

African Rue

Peganum harmala

African rue is a toxic perennial shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It is highly to…

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Small Bugloss
Class 1A

Small Bugloss

Anchusa arvensis

Small bugloss is an annual or biennial plant from Europe that invades agricultural fields,…

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Mediterranean Sage
Class 1A

Mediterranean Sage

Salvia aethiopis

Mediterranean sage is a biennial or short-lived perennial that forms large rosettes in its…

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Spring Millet (Ventenata)
Class 1A

Spring Millet (Ventenata)

Milium vernale / Ventenata dubia

Ventenata (North Africa grass) is an annual grass that invades rangelands and reduces fora…

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Syrian Beancaper
Class 1A

Syrian Beancaper

Zygophyllum fabago

Syrian beancaper is a perennial shrub from the Middle East that invades arid and semi-arid…

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Plumeless Thistle
Class 1A

Plumeless Thistle

Carduus acanthoides

Plumeless thistle is a biennial or annual thistle from Europe that invades pastures, roads…

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Malta Starthistle
Class 1A

Malta Starthistle

Centaurea melitensis

Malta starthistle is an annual or biennial plant from the Mediterranean that invades range…

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Camelthorn
Class 1BPriority

Camelthorn

Alhagi maurorum

Camelthorn is a deep-rooted perennial shrub from the Middle East that is extremely difficu…

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Garlic Mustard
Class 1BPriority

Garlic Mustard

Alliaria petiolata

Garlic mustard is a biennial herb that invades forest understories, riparian areas, and di…

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Purple Starthistle
Class 1B

Purple Starthistle

Centaurea calcitrapa

Purple starthistle is a biennial or short-lived perennial from the Mediterranean that inva…

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Goatsrue
Class 1BPriority

Goatsrue

Galega officinalis

Goatsrue is a federally listed noxious weed native to Europe that is highly toxic to lives…

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African Mustard
Class 1B

African Mustard

Brassica tournefortii

African mustard is an annual plant from the Mediterranean that invades desert and semi-ari…

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Giant Reed
Class 1BPriority

Giant Reed

Arundo donax

Giant reed is one of the world's most invasive plants. It forms massive, impenetrable stan…

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Blueweed (Viper's Bugloss)
Class 1BPriority

Blueweed (Viper's Bugloss)

Echium vulgare

Viper's bugloss is a biennial or short-lived perennial from Europe that invades roadsides,…

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Elongated Mustard
Class 1B

Elongated Mustard

Brassica elongata

Elongated mustard is an annual or biennial plant from Eurasia that invades roadsides, rang…

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Common St. Johnswort
Class 1BPriority

Common St. Johnswort

Hypericum perforatum

Common St. Johnswort is a perennial herb from Europe that invades rangelands, roadsides, a…

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Oxeye Daisy
Class 1B

Oxeye Daisy

Leucanthemum vulgare

Oxeye daisy is a perennial herb from Europe that invades meadows, roadsides, and disturbed…

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Cutleaf Vipergrass
Class 1B

Cutleaf Vipergrass

Scorzonera laciniata

Cutleaf vipergrass is a biennial or perennial plant from Europe that invades rangelands, r…

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Leafy Spurge
Class 2Priority

Leafy Spurge

Euphorbia esula

Leafy spurge is one of the most economically damaging invasive plants in the western Unite…

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Medusahead
Class 2Priority

Medusahead

Taeniatherum caput-medusae

Medusahead is an annual grass from Eurasia that is one of the most problematic invasive gr…

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Rush Skeletonweed
Class 2Priority

Rush Skeletonweed

Chondrilla juncea

Rush skeletonweed is a perennial plant from Eurasia that invades rangelands, roadsides, an…

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Spotted Knapweed
Class 2Priority

Spotted Knapweed

Centaurea stoebe

Spotted knapweed is one of the most widespread invasive plants in the western United State…

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Purple Loosestrife
Class 2Priority

Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria

Purple loosestrife is a perennial wetland plant from Europe that forms dense monocultures …

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Squarrose Knapweed
Class 2Priority

Squarrose Knapweed

Centaurea virgata

Squarrose knapweed is a perennial plant from the Middle East that invades rangelands and r…

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Dyer's Woad
Class 2Priority

Dyer's Woad

Isatis tinctoria

Dyer's woad is a biennial or short-lived perennial from Eurasia that was historically used…

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Yellow Starthistle
Class 2Priority

Yellow Starthistle

Centaurea solstitialis

Yellow starthistle is an annual plant from the Mediterranean that is one of the most probl…

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Yellow Toadflax
Class 2Priority

Yellow Toadflax

Linaria vulgaris

Yellow toadflax (butter-and-eggs) is a perennial plant from Eurasia that invades rangeland…

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Diffuse Knapweed
Class 2Priority

Diffuse Knapweed

Centaurea diffusa

Diffuse knapweed is a biennial or short-lived perennial from Eurasia that invades rangelan…

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Black Henbane
Class 2

Black Henbane

Hyoscyamus niger

Black henbane is a highly toxic annual or biennial plant from Eurasia. All parts of the pl…

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Dalmatian Toadflax
Class 2Priority

Dalmatian Toadflax

Linaria dalmatica

Dalmatian toadflax is a perennial plant from the Mediterranean that invades rangelands, ro…

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Russian Knapweed
Class 3Priority

Russian Knapweed

Acroptilon repens

Russian knapweed is one of the most difficult invasive plants to control due to its deep, …

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Houndstongue
Class 3Priority

Houndstongue

Cynoglossum officinale

Houndstongue is a biennial plant from Europe that invades rangelands, forests, and roadsid…

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Perennial Pepperweed (Tall Whitetop)
Class 3Priority

Perennial Pepperweed (Tall Whitetop)

Lepidium latifolium

Perennial pepperweed is a highly invasive plant from Eurasia that forms dense stands in we…

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Phragmites (Common Reed)
Class 3Priority

Phragmites (Common Reed)

Phragmites australis ssp.

The invasive subspecies of common reed forms dense monocultures in wetlands and riparian a…

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Tamarisk (Saltcedar)
Class 3Priority

Tamarisk (Saltcedar)

Tamarix ramosissima

Tamarisk is a shrub or small tree from Eurasia that has invaded riparian areas throughout …

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Hoary Cress (Whitetop)
Class 3Priority

Hoary Cress (Whitetop)

Cardaria spp.

Hoary cress is a perennial plant from Eurasia that invades agricultural fields, roadsides,…

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Canada Thistle
Class 3Priority

Canada Thistle

Cirsium arvense

Canada thistle is one of the most widespread and economically damaging invasive plants in …

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Poison Hemlock
Class 3Priority

Poison Hemlock

Conium maculatum

Poison hemlock is one of the most toxic plants in North America. All parts are highly pois…

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Musk Thistle
Class 3Priority

Musk Thistle

Carduus nutans

Musk thistle is a biennial plant from Eurasia that invades rangelands, roadsides, and dist…

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Quackgrass
Class 3

Quackgrass

Elymus repens

Quackgrass is a perennial grass from Eurasia that invades agricultural fields, roadsides, …

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Jointed Goatgrass
Class 3

Jointed Goatgrass

Aegilops cylindrica

Jointed goatgrass is an annual grass from Eurasia that is a serious problem in winter whea…

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Bermudagrass
Class 3

Bermudagrass

Cynodon dactylon

Bermudagrass is a perennial grass from Africa that invades agricultural fields, roadsides,…

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Johnson Grass / Sorghum Almum
Class 3

Johnson Grass / Sorghum Almum

Sorghum halepense / Sorghum almum

Johnson grass is a tall perennial grass from the Mediterranean that invades agricultural f…

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Scotch Thistle (Cotton Thistle)
Class 3Priority

Scotch Thistle (Cotton Thistle)

Onopordum acanthium

Scotch thistle is one of the largest thistles in the world, reaching up to 9 feet tall. It…

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Field Bindweed (Wild Morning-glory)
Class 3Priority

Field Bindweed (Wild Morning-glory)

Convolvulus spp.

Field bindweed is one of the most persistent and difficult-to-control weeds in agricultura…

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Puncturevine (Goathead)
Class 3Priority

Puncturevine (Goathead)

Tribulus terrestris

Puncturevine is an annual plant from the Mediterranean that is a serious problem for lives…

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Cogongrass (Japanese Blood Grass)
Class 4

Cogongrass (Japanese Blood Grass)

Imperata cylindrica

Cogongrass is considered one of the world's worst invasive plants. It forms dense monocult…

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Myrtle Spurge
Class 4

Myrtle Spurge

Euphorbia myrsinites

Myrtle spurge is a succulent perennial plant from the Mediterranean that was widely sold a…

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Dame's Rocket
Class 4

Dame's Rocket

Hesperis matronalis

Dame's rocket is a biennial or short-lived perennial from Eurasia that was widely sold as …

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Scotch Broom
Class 4

Scotch Broom

Cytisus scoparius

Scotch broom is a perennial shrub from Europe that was widely planted for erosion control …

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Russian Olive
Class 4Priority

Russian Olive

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Russian olive is a small tree or large shrub from Eurasia that was widely planted for wind…

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Japanese Knotweed
Class 1B

Japanese Knotweed

Polygonum cuspidatum

Japanese knotweed is one of the world's most invasive plants. It forms dense thickets that…

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