Highly invasive, particularly problematic near watercourses.

Scheduled under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Classified as a ‘controlled waste’ requiring licensed landfill disposal.

Grows through walls, tarmac and concrete and can reach 3m high by June.

Spreads via rhizomes, does not produce viable seed.

Rhizomes from one plant can be 2m deep and 7m wide.

Fragments of rhizome of only 1cm can produce new plants.

Repeated cutting will weaken rhizomes but is generally ineffective on its own.

Digging can increase spread unless every piece of root is removed.

Widely distributed throughout the UK, vast stands in upland areas, but also increasingly found on waste ground.

Fronds are poisonous to cattle and horses, harbours disease-carrying ticks and carries carcinogenic spores.

Thick stands shade out all other plants.

Extensive underground network of two rhizome types makes control difficult.

Non frond-bearing, storage rhizomes are not killed by some herbicides.

Repeated cutting will weaken rhizomes but is generally ineffective on its own.

A survivor of the pre-historic age, this fern-like plant spreads mainly by extensive underground rhizomes, up to 2m deep. Foliage shoots emerge in May, preceded by spore-bearing shoots in early spring.

Prefers moist and shady areas but increasingly found on waste ground and non-cropped areas where it survives most herbicide treatments and takes over in the absence of competition from other weeds.

Poisonous to livestock, but avoided by grazing animals - must be excluded from hay/haylage or silage.

Thick waxy cuticle and small needle-like leaves make it difficult to get sufficient spray into the plant to kill the roots.

Repeated cutting will weaken rhizomes but is generally ineffective on its own.

Some residual herbicides are very effective but cannot be used near desirable species or near water.

Generally considered not to be susceptible to glyphosate, but in many areas residuals will not be suitable and it may be the only environmentally acceptable choice.

A shade loving creeping or climbing evergreen plant which can cause damage to masonry in buildings and walls as well as climbing trees and blocking light.

Creeping along the ground it can out-compete many desirable plants in ornamental plantings.

The thick, waxy cuticle which covers the leaf makes it difficult to penetrate with foliar herbicides and it is generally considered not to be susceptible to glyphosate.

In many areas residuals will not be suitable, especially near water and it may be the only environmentally acceptable choice.

A shade loving invasive plant of woodlands, excluding native species from woodland floors.

The sheer physical size of the plant, up to 8m in places, together with a tough waxy leaf make Rhododendron difficult to control.

It regenerates quickly if not completely killed.

Scrambling perennial of hedgerows and waste ground, can be very invasive, with spiny stems posing a hazard to people and pets in public areas.

Spreads both by rhizomes and stems rooting where they come into contact with the ground.

Large stands can be difficult to reach over with a sprayer unless an extending lance is used.

Insufficient herbicide will reach the roots and re-growth is more likely when:

Giant version of common hedgerow and pasture weed, growing upto 5m tall, with flowers up to 0.5 metre and leaves 1 metre across.

Serious invasive alien, often found near watercourses.

It is an offence under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act to plant or cause it grow in the wild.

Poisonous sap causes photo sensitive skin irritation and precludes manual methods of removal.

Up to 50,000 seeds per plant viable for 15 years mean it can spread rapidly.

Fully mature, flowering plant is too tall to spray except with long lances.

Bright yellow flowers prominent on light land, in neglected pasture and waste ground in summer.

Mostly spread by seed blown in the wind from neighbouring land.

Poisonous to livestock, especially horses, both fresh and in hay or silage.

Spread must be prevented under the Weeds Act 1959 and landowners must adhere to The Ragwort Code of Practice.

Cutting can weaken plants, but may turn them from biennials into perennials.

Dead foliage must be removed or have completely died down before livestock can return to treated areas.

Climbing perennials widespread over hedges, industrial and amenity areas and waste ground.

Spread mainly by long underground rhizomes.

Tiny fragments of broken roots will regenerate and spread, so digging can cause rapid multiplication.

Deep-rooted, perennial invading disturbed ground and amenity areas, particularly prone to infest ornamental plantings.

Spread mainly by long underground rhizomes.

Digging can cause rapid multiplication, due to the brittle nature of the roots and the rapid regeneration from the tiniest of fragments.