Invasive Plant Early Detection and Rapid Response
When new invasive species do reach an area we can minimize their impact through early detection and rapid response. By finding and treating invasive plant populations while they are small, we have a better chance of controlling the population. The larger the infestation the greater the control costs in time and money. There are invasive species that are known to cause large impacts elsewhere in the Midwest, but are not yet widely distributed or present in Minnesota. By finding and treating populations of these species while they are small, we can protect Minnesota from their impacts.
See the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Terrestrial Invasive Plant Early Detection Program and the MDA Prohibited Noxious Weed Eradicate List for target species that are not yet widely distributed in Minnesota (the "Eradicate List" section in "Minnesota Noxious Weeds 
" by MN DOT also gives ID information). The Early Detection site also provides links to maps of these species in Minnesota and allows you to share information about locations of these invasive species. Criteria for early detection target species are non-native, invasive plants with limited distribution in Minnesota that are assessed as high risk.
Other Terrestrial Plant Early Detection Targets:
- Keep a Lookout for New Invasive plants in the Midwest (2012 version, Midwest Invasive Plant Network - MIPN)
- Ramsey County Cooperative Weed Management Area Early Detection Targets
Invasive species either not present in Minnesota or with a limited distribution in Minnesota:
- Black swallow-wort
- British yellowhead
- Common teasel
- Cut-leaved teasel
- Dalmatian toadflax
- Japanese hedge parsley
- MIPN Japanese hedge parsley fact sheet
- Japanese hedge parsley identification video (UW Extension)
- Wisconsin DNR Fact Sheet
- Photos for ID: Minnesota Wildflowers or Missouri Plants Japanese hedgeparsley webpages
- MIPN Japanese hedge parsley fact sheet
- Japanese hops
- Giant hogweed
- on the MDA Prohibited Noxious Weed - Eradicate List
- MIPN Giant hogweed fact sheet
- US Forest Service Fact Sheet
- To distinguish giant hogweed from native look-alikes: Mistaken Identity - Invasive Plants and their Native Look-Alikes
- Video on distinguishing giant hogweed from native cow parsnip (Greater Vancouver Invasive Plant Council)
- Wisconsin DNR Fact Sheet
- Grecian foxglove
- Meadow knapweed
- Narrowleaf bittercress
- Oriental bittersweet
- Tree of heaven
- MIPN tree of heaven fact sheet
- US Forest Service Fact Sheet
- Wisconsin DNR Fact Sheet
- To distinguish tree of heaven from sumac: Mistaken Identity - Invasive Plants and their Native Look-Alikes
- Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet
- MIPN tree of heaven fact sheet
- Yellow star thistle
- on the MDA Prohibited Noxious Weed - Eradicate List
- MDA Early Detection Target: Yellow star thistle
- Biology, Ecology and Management of Yellow star thistle (Montana State University)
- Watch Out for Yellow star thistle (Montana State University)
- US Forest Service Fact Sheet
- Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet
Please report early detection invasive plants