Himalayan blackberry takes over neglected areas. Plants live for many years (perennial). Canes grow up to 15 feet tall. They grow on the ground or through vegetation or structures.

Himalayan blackberry thorns are large and dangerous. If you are injured by a blackberry thorn, clean the wound with soap and water.

Birds and mammals eat the berries and spread seeds widely.

 Leaves are palm-shaped with a central stem. Each leaf has five leaflets (sometimes three) with toothed margins.

Himalayan blackberry flowers have five petals in shades of white to pink. They are very attractive to honey bees and other pollinators.

Indigo bush is a thornless shrub that loses its leaves in the winter (deciduous). Stems grow roughly 12 feet tall. Plants form dense thickets.

Leaves have a central stem with 13–25 leaflets arranged opposite each other along the stem. The leaflets are one to two inches long, dotted, and hairy.

Indigo bush blooms in May through June. Flowers are showy and lavender-colored. They are densely arranged on erect stems. Flowers are violet to purple with yellow anthers.

Indigo bush spreads by seed and runners from the root system. It thrives along waterways and prairie draws. It also grows along forest edges and rights-of-way.

Indigo bush seeds mature in small fruit pods. Each pod contains 1–2 seeds. The pods float in water to new locations.

The leaves grow opposite one another along the red stems.

Leaves grow as long as 15 inches and 11 inches in width. But leaves can be smaller, as shown in the photo.

Flowers are abundant in mid to late summer. They grow on branches in the top 1/3 of the plant. Flowers make seeds that result in new plants. But seedlings play a small role in establishing new stands.

Stems are long, hollow, and segmented like bamboo. They grow from 4-15 feet tall and are often arched.

Knotweed spreads far beyond shoot growth with underground root structures (rhizomes). Stems and root pieces broken or cut away from rooted plants can make new plants.

In the fall and winter, knotweed stems die and remain standing. New growth emerges from the soil in early spring.

Forms dense patches that are visible in later winter and spring. Above-ground stems die back and are not visible during summer and fall.

Plants grow about 6-8 inches tall from the base (rosette).

Yellow flowers have yellow sepals (resemble petals).

Small, pale, bulbs (called bulbils) form on the stems. They attach to your shoes, clothes, and equipment. Bulbils are carried by flowing water to new areas.

Reed canarygrass grows up to 8 feet tall. It grows in agricultural fields, drainage ditches, roadsides, and natural areas.

Mature grass blades are ¼-⅓ inch wide and up to 14 inches long. The blades taper toward the tip. The round stems stand mostly upright, and by mid to late summer some stems may lean down to the ground. The stems are hairless.

Flowers are densely clustered spikes up to 12 inches long, as shown in the photo. They often have dark-green or purple streaks.

Reed canarygrass has a papery, 1/8-1/4-inch-long flap of material (ligule). It grows from where the leaf blade connects to the stem (leaf sheath).

Reed canarygrass flower heads create thousands of seeds that easily disperse, and lead to new plants.

Seeds germinate to form new plants.

Reed canarygrass forms a robust, spreading root system. It forms dense patches.

The mature leaves are 2–3 feet long, flattened and sword-shaped, typical of most iris. They may stay evergreen in mild winters.

Yellow flag iris flowers have 3 large downward-spreading sepals and 3 small erect petals. The sepals may have delicate brownish to purple veins. Yellow color may be bright or pale. It blooms from late spring into summer.

The seed pod is up to 4 inches long and glossy green. It contains many flattened brown seeds. Seeds float on the water, and spread yellow flag iris into the surrounding area.

Yellow flag iris spreads by stout rhizomes. They grow rapidly, forming a dense mat.

Flattened brown seeds are about ¼ inch in diameter.