MONOCOTS / GRASSES

Native to tropical America and found throughout South and Central America, in the United States from Florida north along the Atlantic coast states to Pennsylvania, as well as in Hawaii.

Native to North America, and found throughout the United States including Hawaii, as well as throughout much of Canada.

A native plant in the United States, and found throughout the eastern half of the country, west to Texas and to California and Oregon.

Native to South America but an escape from cultivation that now can be found from California to the southeast states of North Carolina to Florida.

Native to Europe, but one of the most widely distributed weed grasses in the United States. It thrives in turf, gardens, crops, roadsides, or any other open area.

A native of North America, and found throughout most of the eastern United States and as far west as New Mexico, as well as in Hawaii, Mexico, and the West Indies.

A native of Europe, but introduced to the United States as an edible crop. It tends to escape cultivation and can be found throughout the United States and into Latin America, as well as much of southern Canada.

May be Eurasian in origin, but now found worldwide, including throughout the United States and southern Canada.

Native to South America, but now spread throughout all of Latin America, the West Indies, Hawaii, and the southeastern U.S.

Native to North America, and in the U.S. it is found from Texas to Florida and north along the east coast to New York, as well as in Indiana, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Native to Eurasia and Africa, and now occurring throughout North America. This grass will grow in virtually any situation, crop or non-crop, landscape and turf.

Native to Africa, but a common weed now around the world. Several hybrids are used as desirable turf.

Native to Europe, and introduced to the United States, where it now occurs very sporadically along the West Coast, in Colorado and Illinois, in Georgia and states around New York, as well as in Hawaii.

Native to the western United States, and found from the Rocky Mountains to the west coast.

Native to the southeastern United States, where it occurs from Texas to Florida, and north to Maryland.

Native to Eurasia where it can be a severe weed problem. Now widespread throughout the United States, but less of a problem here.

Native to North America, and found in the U.S. along the eastern states south throughout Florida, and west to Texas.

Native to the dry plains of central North America, and found from Alberta, Canada, south in the U.S. to Florida, Texas and Mexico, and west to Idaho and California.

Several species of this wildflower are native to the southeastern states of the U.S., and extend across the southern states to the southwest.

A native grass in North America, occurring in the extreme northeast and north central states and in southeastern Canada.

Native to Africa or possibly South America as well, but found throughout the world due to its introduction as a forage grass. It is considered a principle to serious weed pest in crops in many countries of the world.

Native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, introduced to the United States from Europe.

A native sedge found throughout the United States and southern Canada, with the exception of the more arid areas of the southwest U.S.

Native to North America, and found throughout the United States and Canada.

Native to North America, and found throughout the United States and down into Central America.

Native to North America, and found in nearly every state from coast to coast as well as throughout southern Canada.

An introduced weed that now can be found in the United States from California to Florida and in Hawaii, as well as sporadically in the Northeast and Midwest.

Introduced from Europe, and now found widely in the western United States.

Native to the southeast United States, where it occurs from Oklahoma and Texas east to Florida, and north to Maryland.

Native to tropical Asia and the Pacific Islands, this plant is widely sold as an ornamental aquatic plant, and has escaped to become a noxious problem in drainage ditches and other waterways. It may be found throughout the warmer states of the U.S.

Native to North America, and widely distributed from Ohio and Texas to the west coast.

Native to North America along the east coast, and now naturalized in California and Hawaii, as well as Japan and Australia and in the West Indies, Central America and into northern South America.

Native to South America, but a variety has become naturalized in the United States, and is now found from the Mississippi River and its surrounding states to the west coast.

Native to the western United States, where it is found along the Pacific Coast states from Washington to California.

Found throughout the world in mild climates, and in the U.S. in the eastern half of the country.

Introduced from Europe, and now common throughout the United States.

Native to eastern North America. It is found in most southern states from California to Florida and north into New England, as well as in the Great Lakes states. It also is in Hawaii, the West Indies, and Mexico.

Native to Europe – now widespread in the U.S.

Many species in several different genera – most are native to the U.S., while some species are introduced.

Several species of this plant are present in the United States, and most are native to North America.

Native to the South America, but introduced deliberately to the western states as an ornamental plant. Also used for windbreaks, roofing, mats, screens, and even in adobe used for building adobe structures. As an escaped non-native weed it grows readily along the banks of waterways and ponds, interfering with water flow and helping to create stagnant areas.

A native of Asia this grass was introduced as a forage plant in the United States. It is now found throughout North America to Alaska, and south into Latin America.

Native to North America, and found in all states east of the Mississippi River as well as from Nebraska south to Texas and in eastern Canada.

Native to North America, where it is found from Alaska to the Gulf States, as well as in many other temperate regions of the world.

Native to Europe and now widespread throughout the United States. Less common in the far northern states. It was introduced as a forage grass, but easily escapes cultivated areas.

Native to North America and found from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts in temperate climates.

A native plant found throughout North America, with the exception of Florida and Georgia, to as far north as Alaska and south into Mexico.

Native to Africa, but introduced as an ornamental grass to California. As an escape it grows rapidly along roadsides, but rarely causes problems in crops.

Introduced from the Old World Tropics of Asia or Africa, and now found throughout much of the U.S., particularly in the southern states, and south throughout Latin America, in Europe, Australia, and Hawaii.

A native plant in southeastern North America, now found from New York to Florida, and west to Texas and Oklahoma.

Native to South America, now common throughout the southwest United States.

Native to the west coast of the United States. Commonly used in ornamental settings due to its size and symmetry.

Native to the western United States.

Native to tropical Asia, but introduced to the United States, where it is present from North Carolina to Florida and west to Texas, as well as in Hawaii and the West Indies.

Introduced from the Mediterranean in packing materials, and now widely distributed throughout North America.

Introduced from Asia, and found in California and Hawaii as an occasional weed in waste areas and along roadsides.

Native to North America, and found from Texas north to Missouri, and in nearly all states east of the Mississippi River.

Native to central and eastern United States, now spread throughout the western states as well.

Introduced from South America and now found throughout much of California in the Central Valley and along the south coastal areas.

Native to the United States and Latin America, and found in the U.S. from Arkansas east to Georgia and north to New York. It also occurs in Hawaii.

Native to North America, where it occurs from Arizona to Texas, and occasionally found as an introduced grass in the area of New York. It also occurs throughout Mexico and into South America.

Another native sedge species, found from Texas east to Florida, and north to Virginia.

Native to tropical America, now widespread in the western United States.

Native to Africa, and introduced as an ornamental grass. This is highly drought tolerant, and as an escape from cultivation it can be a problem along roadsides, in ditchbanks, and orchards.

Native to warm regions of the western hemisphere, and currently found along the coastal states from Virginia south through Florida and west to California, as well as throughout Latin America and in Africa and parts of Asia.

A native plant in North America, and found widely from California to the entire east coast and south into Latin America. It also is found in Hawaii and the West Indies.

Native to eastern North America, and found throughout the United States and Canada north to Alaska, due in part to its common sale and use for ornamental garden ponds. It is a listed noxious weed in some states due to its rapid growth and ability to cover wide areas of water.

Native to eastern North America, where it occurs throughout the eastern half of the continent and into Oklahoma and Texas.

Native to warmer areas of Europe, and introduced to California as an ornamental and wind-break planting, as well as for use as a roofing material, mats or screens. It easily escapes cultivation and has become a major problem in natural settings due to its aggressive and dominating growth. In particular it is noxious in areas along river shores, irrigation or ditchbanks, and drainage canals. It grows in tall, solid thickets that may overwhelm large areas.

Native to the southeast United States, and occurring from Texas and Oklahoma east to Florida and North Carolina.

A native plant in eastern North America, occurring from Pennsylvania south throughout Florida, and west to Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. It also occurs in Latin America and the West Indies as well as eastern Asia.

Native to eastern Asia, but introduced as an ornamental plant. It can be found in landscape or along roadsides in many states with warm climates, including California and Oregon as well as most of the southeast states from Louisiana to Florida and north to Maryland.

Introduced from Europe, but now found throughout most of the United States.

Native to Europe, but now found throughout the world, including throughout Latin America and in North America along the east coast states and west to Texas.

Native to the eastern half of the United States, and present in nearly every state in the eastern half of the country, west to South Dakota and New Mexico, as well as in Washington state. At least 4 varieties of this plant exist.

Native to Europe, now common throughout much of the United States, especially in cooler climates. A particular problem in alfalfa fields, but also occurring in other row crops, along roadsides, waste areas, and in landscape.

Native to either the American Tropics or Old World tropical areas, and now found throughout the southwestern United States and in Hawaii. It is becoming a major problem in ornamental plantings, and in turf, where it quickly and aggressively crowds out desirable grasses.

Native to North America, and found from the Midwest to the Pacific Coast and south into Mexico.

Native to the dry plains of central North America, and found from Canada south in the U.S. to Florida, Texas and Mexico, and west to Montana and Nevada

Native to Eurasia, but introduced to the United States as a forage grass and for range improvement. It has spread widely, and now can be found in many states across the U.S., as well as in Hawaii. It occurs from Oregon south to Arizona, and in Texas and several Gulf States to Virginia.

Native to North America, and found from west to east coasts and throughout southern Canada.

Native to Europe, but introduced and now common throughout the western United States.

Native to tropical America, including the southeastern United States, where it is found from Florida to Texas. It also has been introduced to Hawaii around 1840 and is now a widespread noxious weed there.

There are over 200 species in this genus in the world, with several dozen varieties in the United States.

Native to Florida and the West Indies, and also found in Hawaii, throughout Latin America, and in the Old World tropics.

A native of North America, and found along the Pacific Coast from Canada south to Mexico and east to New Mexico.

A native of Europe, and now widespread throughout the United States.

Native to the Mediterranean region, but deliberately introduced to the United States as a grass desirable for forage. Now widespread throughout the warm regions of the U.S. where it is a severe pest weed problem.

Native to Europe, and now widespread throughout the west and southwest United States. Found commonly in both cultivated fields and in waste areas.

Native to tropical Africa, but introduced deliberately to California as a cover along slopes and ditch banks for erosion control. As a very fast growing grass it also has been used for a turfgrass, but it is capable of escaping and invading other grasses where it is objectionable.

Native to North America, and widely distributed throughout the United States and south into South America.

Native to the United States, where it is found throughout the country from coast to coast, and into South America.

Native to Europe and now widespread in the United States.

Native to the western United States, where it is present in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Native to western North America and found as far south as Argentina and throughout most of the U.S. except the northernmost and northeastern states.

Introduced from Europe, and now found throughout the southern half of the United States, north in the east to New York and north in the west to Oregon and Idaho. It also has been introduced to Hawaii.

Native to the Mediterranean region. Widespread in the southwest United States.

Native to North America, where it is found throughout the states east of the Mississippi River and west to Texas and Oklahoma. It also is found in Hawaii.

Introduced from Europe and Asia, now a dominant grass species over widespread rangeland in the western United States, where it crowds out most other grass species. As a grass that is not conducive to grazing it has reduced grazing capacity in some areas up to 75%.

Native to the United States, and widespread in this country.

Native to North America, and found throughout the U.S. from the Midwest to the east coast, into Canada and south into Mexico.

A native grass in the western United States, and also in Hawaii.

Native to Eurasia, now widespread throughout much of the United States.

Native to Argentina, but introduced as a landscape plant, and now found in a number of states from Oregon and California east to Florida and north to New Jersey. It does best in warmer climates.

Some varieties native to North America, and particularly common in the southern tier states.

Native to South America, but introduced to the United States and sold as aquatic plants. It was planted in ponds and aquariums and has now spread widely across North America.

Native to Europe, but now widely distributed throughout the United States.

A native plant in the United States, and found throughout the eastern half of the country and into Canada and Mexico.

Native to North America, and found throughout the western states north to Alaska, and in the northern states of the eastern half of the U.S. and into eastern Canada.

Native to Europe, but now thoroughly spread around the world on all continents. In North America it is found primarily in the southern states from California to Florida, and north to Missouri and New York, as well as a few other states. It occurs in the West Indies, Hawaii, and throughout Latin America.

Native to southeastern United States and the West Indies, and found in Florida, Mississippi, California, and Latin America, as well as in Africa.

Introduced from Europe and now found throughout most of the United States, with the exceptions of the warm southern areas from South Carolina to Arizona.

Native to southern and western Europe, now widespread in the United States.

Native to tropical America and Florida, but introduced to Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest.

Introduced from Europe, and now found throughout the United States, in southern Canada and Latin America, as well as in Alaska and Hawaii. V. myuros and F. megalura are sometimes separated as two species, but currently combined as only one.

Native to North America, and found in southern Canada, and in the United States in the Pacific Northwest, north Central, and northeast states.

Native to tropical Latin America.

A native sedge in North America, and found in all states and southern Canada.

Native to Eurasia, and now found throughout the northern United States and Canada.

Native to South America, and introduced to the United States for cultivation as a winter forage in the southern states. Strong growth in winter and early spring make it suitable for forage. It commonly escapes cultivated areas and becomes troublesome in crops or non-crop situations.

Native to Europe, and now widespread along the Pacific Coast states. It is a very common weed species in rangeland, roadsides, waste areas, or ditchbanks, where it may compete with native plants.

Naturalized in the United States and found throughout temperate North America, as well as in much of Asia and into New Zealand.

A native grass in the United States and Latin America, and found in Pennsylvania, the southeast states and in Hawaii and the West Indies.

Native to Eurasia, but accidentally introduced to the rice-growing regions of California, and now a widespread weed in marshy habitats in California.

Introduced from Europe as a forage grass, and present throughout much of North America to Alaska. It also is used occasionally for turf in wet habitats, but does not tolerate dry conditions and thus is limited in its use as a turf grass.

Native to the western United States.

Native to North America, and found from Texas to Florida, and north to Illinois and New York.

A native plant in the eastern half of North America, where it occurs in every state east of the Rocky Mountains and in eastern Canada, in California, and south into Latin America.

Native to North America, and found in the extreme southeast states and in Puerto Rico.

Native to Europe and now widespread in the United States.

Native to the southeastern U.S. and into Latin America, and found throughout the eastern and Midwestern states and west to California.

Native of Eurasia, introduced from Europe, and widespread in the western United States. Winter growth serves as livestock forage in some areas.

Native to tropical Americas including the southern United States, where it is present from Florida to Texas, as well as in Illinois and New Mexico. It was introduced to Hawaii in the early 1900’s and has become a noxious weed problem there.

Found throughout the southern half of the U.S. from the east coast to New Mexico, south throughout Latin America, in Hawaii, as well as Africa and parts of Asia.

Native to the southwestern United States.

Both native and introduced species.

Native to the southeastern United States and Latin America, and found in the U.S. from New England south throughout Florida, west to Texas and Kansas, and in Hawaii and the West Indies. It also is found throughout Latin America as well as in tropical countries in Africa and Asia.

A native of western North America, where it occurs in every state from Texas north to North Dakota and west to the Pacific Coast, north into Canada and south into Mexico. It also may extend east into West Virginia.

Native to Europe, but found in many continents, including in Canada, the southern United States, and Hawaii.

Native to the Unites States, and found throughout the southeast from Texas to Florida and north to Virginia, as well as in Puerto Rico.

Introduced from Eurasia, now found throughout the United States.

Native to western United States, where it can be a common weed in California in wet habitats.

Native to the southeastern United States, and found from Florida and South Carolina west to Texas and Oklahoma, as well as in the West Indies and throughout Latin America.

Native to Eurasia and Africa, but now occurring in the western U.S. from Arizona to Idaho and along the Pacific Coast.

Native to Europe, and now spread widely across the U.S. , south through Latin America, and in Asia and Australia.

Introduced from Europe, and now widely distributed throughout the United States.

Native to the southeastern United States, and present from Texas along the Gulf Coast states to Florida, and north to Virginia. It also has been introduced into Hawaii.

Native to southeastern United States and Latin America, but found throughout the world in tropical habitats. In the U.S. it is found from Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Missouri, and in Hawaii. It also is in the West Indies, Asia, and Europe.

Native to Eurasia, but introduced as a forage crop and cultivation for hay. Now escaped and naturalized throughout most of North America.

Thought to have originated in Europe, but now found on most continents and in the U.S. from the Carolinas along the Gulf states to Texas.

Native to North America, and found throughout most of the eastern half of the U.S. from Kansas and Texas east to New York and Florida, and south throughout Latin America and the West Indies.

A native of Africa, and introduced and used commonly as a landscape planting. Not a particular weed problem, but it has escaped cultivation and will be found along some roadsides or waste areas.

Native to tropical regions of Eurasia, but now spread to many other areas of the world. In the United States it occurs from California along the southern states to Florida and north to Pennsylvania, as well as in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Native to South America, but introduced as a forage plant, and now spread throughout the southern half of the U.S. from Virginia to California.

Native to Eurasia, widespread in the western United States. A common grass that grows in almost any situation as a low, dense cover. Once it’s seed panicles emerge it becomes useless as a forage grass, with seeds that have sharp, stout awns.

Native to North America, and found in the northeastern U.S. from Maine to North Dakota, and north through Canada to Alaska.

Native to Latin America, and thought to have been introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant. Now present throughout the milder climates of the U.S., from Florida to California, where it can be a severe problem in navigable waterways and irrigation canals, where its thick, smothering growth obstructs movement and water flow.

Native to Asia, and introduced to Hawaii, where it is a common turf weed, and even may be used as a turf substitute in some situations.

Native to Europe, but now found throughout the eastern half of the United States, along the Pacific Coast, in Canada, as well as Africa.

Native to the western United States, and found along the Pacific Coast and east to Utah and Arizona.

Native to Europe, now widespread in the United States, being most common in the western half of the country. In California it is the most widespread and noxious of the winter annual grass weeds.

Not a native of the United States. Possibly from Asia or Europe, and now found throughout much of the western U.S.

Native to the eastern United States, and now common throughout the U.S. and southern Canada.

Native to North America, and found throughout the eastern half of the U.S. west along the northern states to Oregon and Washington, and throughout southern Canada.

Native to Eurasia, but an important weed species in cultivated areas throughout the world, including much of the United States.

Native to the Old World, but now spread throughout the world, including all of the United States, much of Canada, and south through the tropical areas of South America. It is one of the most important weed pests in the U.S. and much of the rest of the world.

A native to North America with many varieties named. It is found throughout the United States and Canada, north to Alaska. Plants are often sold for ornamental uses, and in most situations the plants are considered of value for wildlife habitat and food. However, the rapid growth allows this species to form large, thick colonies that may create undesirable conditions for water use or water flow.

One of a number of species of introduced Xyris, most from South America. Found in Florida in the U.S.