EINP Invasive Plant Species Look-Alikes Quiz

Is this plant invasive or native?

Native, this is arrow-leaved coltsfoot! It’s invasive look-alike is great burdock.

Top photo: arrow-leaved coltsfoot (native):

• Leaves: Arrow-shaped

• Flowers: Small, white

Bottom photo: great burdock (invasive):

• Leaves: Heart-shaped and wavy

• Flowers: Purple-pink with burrs

Which plant is invasive and what is it called?

The bottom photo is invasive—it’s creeping bellflower! Its native look-alike is native bluebells.

Top photo: bluebells (native):

• Leaves: heart-shaped basal leaves and long, narrow leaves on the flowering stem

• Flowers: only 1-3 flowers per stem

Bottom photo: creeping bellflower (invasive):

• Leaves: heart-shaped

• Flowers: dense on one side of the stem

Which plant is invasive and what is it called?

The top photo is invasive—it’s caragana! Its native look-alike is prickly rose.

Top photo: caragana (invasive):

• Leaves: entire margin

• Flowers: yellow

• Stem: small spines

Bottom photo: prickly rose (native):

• Leaves: serrate margins

• Flowers: pink

• Stem: thorns

Is this plant invasive and what is it called?

Yes, this plant is invasive—it’s cicer milkvetch! Its native look-alike is American vetch.

Top photo: cicer milkvetch (invasive):

• Flowers: cream/yellow

• Tendrils: no

Bottom photo: American vetch (native):

• Flowers: purple

• Tendrils: yes

Is this plant invasive and what is it called?

Yes, this plant is invasive—it’s common tansy! Its native look-alike is dune tansy

Top photo: common tansy (invasive):

• Leaves: “lace-like”

• Height: up to 1.5 m

Bottom photo: dune tansy (native):

• Leaves: “feathery”

• Height: 20-60 cm

Which plant is invasive and what is it called?

The bottom photo is invasive—it’s false spirea! It’s native look-alike is red elderberry.

Top photo: red elderberry (native):

• Berries: yes, red

Bottom photo: false spirea (invasive):

• Berries: no

Which picture is reed canary grass?

The top picture is reed canary grass! It’s native look-alike is Canada bluejoint.

Top photo: reed canary grass (invasive):

• Leaves: up to 20 mm wide

Bottom photo: Canada bluejoint (native):

• Leaves: up to 10 mm wide

What are some key distinguishing features of the leafy spurge?

The leafy spurge is a unique plant! 2 heart-shaped leafy bracts surround clusters of yellow-green flowers that lack both petals and sepals. The leaves form an alternate arrangement. The leaves themselves are oblong, narrow, waxy and attach directly onto the stem. If cut, they release a poisonous milky sap known as latex.

While the oxeye daisy could be confused with the scentless chamomile, it has no clear native lookalikes… What features distinguish the oxeye daisy from the scentless chamomile?

In the oxeye daisy, the lower leaves are spoon-shaped with lobed or toothed edges and long leaf stalks; upper leaves are alternate, narrow and clasp the stem. However, the scentless chamomile, the leaves are alternate, very finely divided (carrot-like) and highly branched.

Which plant is invasive? And what is it called?

The tall buttercup is invasive! There are a few ways to tell the difference between the tall buttercup and yellow avens. One of which is the leaf shape. While both leaf shapes are compound, the tall buttercups have a deeply divided leaf shape. This differs from the yellow avens which has a broader leaf shape with toothed edges.

Which plant is native? And what is it called?

The mountain dandelion is native! These two species look quite similar because of their orange flowers but you can tell them apart using their hairs. The mountain dandelion has white hairs while the orange hawkweed has characteristic black hairs.

The yellow toadflax has a unique snapdragon-like flower that makes it stand out. But how do you distinguish the invasive plant from the native northern bedstraw look-alike when neither are flowering?

Yellow Toadflax

Stem

• round

Leaves

• alternate

Excretion

• milky juice when leaves or stem cut

Northern Bedstraw

Stem

• square

Leaves

• four leaves in a whorl

Is this plant invasive? What is it and why?

This is the invasive scentless chamomile. A native lookalike is the white heath aster.

Scentless chamomile

Leaves

• very finely divided leaves

White heath aster

Leaves

• linear leaves with spines at the tip

Is this plant invasive? If so, what is it and why? If not, what features differentiate it from a similar looking native?

This plant is not invasive! It is the native smooth sweet cicely (right).

Smooth Sweet Cicely (Native)

Bracts

• present at base of inflorescence

Roots

• fibrous root system

Scent:

• smells like anise when rubbed

A similar invasive species is goutweed (left).

Goutweed (Invasive)

Bracts

• no bracts

Roots

• rhizomatous root system

Leaves

• may be variegated, solid green or blue-green