Invasive Plants

Invasive plants often produce huge quantities of seed or have aggressive spreading root systems, allowing them to disperse rapidly into our natural environment. They typically emerge early and grow swiftly which allows them to get established before native plants. Additionally, some invasive plants are commonly sold as ornamental plants in nurseries and quickly spread beyond their intended area without proper maintenance. Due to their proliferation, invasive plants remain difficult to control. Fairfax County needs your help to protect our natural environment against invasive plants.

Running Bamboo Learn more about the damage it causes, as well as how to contain it on your own property, remove and dispose of it.

Trapa bispinosa is an emerging threat spreading within and among stormwater ponds and other waterbodies in Fairfax County.

Tree-of-heaven is the preferred host of the invasive spotted lanternfly. Help locate and report observations of this invasive plant.

The Early Detection and Rapid Response program finds new populations of certain invasive species as they are starting to invade an area and then eradicates them before they cause serious harm in county parks.