Lists

!! THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED !!

Until 3 October 2022, the reference for invasive and potentially invasive neophytes in Switzerland was the "Black List" and the "Watch List" published by Info Flora in 2014. Since 2018, the national data centres and InfoSpecies have been working together with the Federal Office for the Environment on the "List of Invasive alien species in Switzerland". Info Flora is responsible for vascular plants. This list was published for the first time on 3 October 2022.

Invasive alien species in Switzerland

The lists of invasive neophytes of Switzerland are an important tool for many public and private actors. They are helpful in the decision making process and enable setting priorities in the prevention, containment, and control of invasive neophytes.

The Release Ordinance (in German: Freisetzungsverordnung FrSV) regulates the handling of organisms in the environment. Self-control and information obligation of customers and due diligence are required in the handling and release of organisms. Handling of any sorts is forbidden for some of the RO plants. For more information (available in German):

Legal basis, Release Ordenance (FrSV) and List of forbidden species.

The AGIN, the Working Group Invasive Neobiota, is an initiative of the cantons. The group provides advice and recommendations, including the recommendations on limiting the selling of alien problematic plants (available in German).

The Black List and the Watch List reflect the current knowledge in the scientific research. Nevertheless, new alien species will keep coming in our country, or neophytes that have long been here suddenly become invasive. Therefore, the lists are never conclusive but rather temporary and dynamic, constantly discussed and updated by a group of experts.

Definitions

Neophytes: alien plant species that have been introduced purposely or accidentally through human activities after 1500 a.C. and that are established in the wild.
Invasive Neophytes: Neophytes that spread strongly and rapidly and, in this way, cause damages.
Black List: List of invasive neophytes that currently have or are expected to have a high spread potential in Switzerland based on current knowledge. In addition, damages are high and confirmed in the sectors of Biodiversity, Health and/or Economy. Occurrence and spread of these species must be prevented.
Watch List: List of Invasive neophytes that currently have or are expected to have a medium to high spread potential in Switzerland based on current knowledge. In addition, damages are medium to high in the sectors of Biodiversity, Health and/or Economy. Occurrence and spread of these species must at least be observed, and new information and data about them must be collected and compiled.

Note: The spread potential and damages are evaluated on the basis of several criteria --> see catalogue of criteria (in German)

Black List (State August 2014)

xxx Occurrences are highly common
xx Occurrences are common
x Occurrences are rather occasional, but can be locally invasive

Scientific Name	Name in German	Jura	Mittelland	Alpen-Nordflanke	Westliche Zentralalpen	Östliche Zentralalpen	Alpen-Südflanke	Nicht in der CH etabliert	Nach FrSV verboten	Infoblatt
Abutilon theophrasti	Chinesische Samtpappel	x	x	x			x
Ailanthus altissima	Götterbaum	xx	xxx	x	xx	x	xxx
Ambrosia artemisiifolia	Aufrechtes Traubenkraut	xxx	xxx	x	xx	x	xxx		V
Amorpha fruticosa	Bastardindigo	x	(x)				xx
Artemisia verlotiorum	Verlotscher Beifuss	xx	xxx	xx	xx	x	xxx
Asclepias syriaca	Syrische Seidenpflanze	x	x				xx
Buddleja davidii	Schmetterlingsstrauch	xxx	xxx	xxx	xx	xx	xxx
Bunias orientalis	Glattes Zackenschötchen	xxx	xx		xxx	xx	x
Cabomba caroliniana	Karolina-Haarnixe							x
Crassula helmsii	Nadelkraut							x	V
Cyperus esculentus	Essbares Zypergras	x	xx				xxx
Echinocystis lobata	Stachelgurke, Igelgurke							x
Elodea canadensis	Kanadische Wasserpest	xxx	xxx	xx	x	x	x
Elodea nuttallii	Nuttalls Wasserpest	x	xxx	x			x		V
Erigeron annuus	Einjähriges Berufkraut	xxx	xxx	xx	xx	xx	xxx
Heracleum mantegazzianum	Riesen-Bärenklau	xxx	xxx	xxx	xxx	xx	xxx		V
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides	Grosser Wassernabel							x	V
Impatiens glandulifera	Drüsiges Springkraut	xxx	xxx	xx	x	x	xxx		V
Lonicera henryi	Henrys Geissblatt		xx
Lonicera japonica	Japanisches Geissblatt	x	xx		x		xxx
Ludwigia grandiflora	Grossblütiges Heusenkraut		(x)					x	V
Ludwigia peploides	Flutendes Heusenkraut							x	V
Lupinus polyphyllus	Vielblättrige Lupine	x	x	x	x	x	x
Myriophyllum aquaticum	Brasilianisches Tausendblatt		(x)					x
Polygonum polystachyum	Vielähriger Knöterich	x	xx		x	x	xx		V
Prunus laurocerasus	Kirschlorbeer	xx	xxx				xxx
Prunus serotina	Herbst-Kirsche	x	x				xxx
Pueraria lobata	Kopoubohne						xxx
Reynoutria japonica	Japanischer Staudenknöterich	xxx	xxx	xxx	xx	xx	xxx		V
Reynoutria sachalinensis	Sachalin-Staudenknöterich	xx	xx		x		x		V
Reynoutria xbohemica	Bastard-Staudenknöterich	xx	xx		x		x		V
Rhus typhina	Essigbaum	xxx	xxx	x	xx	x	xxx		V
Robinia pseudoacacia	Robinie	xxx	xxx	xx	xxx	xxx	xx
Rubus armeniacus	Armenische Brombeere	xxx	xxx
Senecio inaequidens	Schmalblättriges Greiskraut	xx	xxx	x	xx	x	xxx		V
Sicyos angulatus	Haargurke						(x)	x
Solanum carolinense	Carolina-Nachtschatten							x
Solidago canadensis	Kanadische Goldrute	xxx	xxx	xx	xx	xx	xxx		V
Solidago gigantea	Spätblühende Goldrute	xxx	xxx	xx	xx	xx	xxx		V
Solidago nemoralis	Hain-Goldrute							x	V
Toxicodendron radicans	Kletternder Giftsumach							x
Trachycarpus fortunei	Chinesische Hanfpalme, Fortunes Hanfpalme		x				xxx

Watch List (State August 2014)

Scientific Name	Name in German	Jura	Mittelland	Alpen-Nordflanke	Westliche Zentralalpen	Östliche Zentralalpen	Alpen-Südflanke	Nicht in der CH etabliert	Nach FrSV verboten	Infoblatt
Acacia dealbata	Falsche Mimose						xx
Aster novi-belgii aggr. (A. lanceolatus, A. novi-belgii, A. x salignus, A. tradescantii, A. x versicolor)	Neubelgische Aster, Lanzettblättrige Aster	xx	xx		x		xx
Bassia scoparia	Besen-Radmelde	x	x		xxx
Cornus sericea	Seidiger Hornstrauch	x	xx
Galega officinalis	Geissraute	x	xx		x		x
Helianthus tuberosus	Tobinambur	x	xx	x	x	x	xx
Impatiens balfourii	Balfours Springkraut	x	xx	x	x		xx
Lysichiton americanus	Amerikanischer Stinktierkohl		(x)
Opuntia humifusa	Gemeiner Feigenkaktus		x		xxx	x
Parthenocissus inserta (+ P. quinquefoglia)*	Gewöhnliche Jungfernrebe	x	xx		x		x
Paulownia tomentosa	Blauglockenbaum	x	xx		x		xx
Phytolacca americana	Amerikanische Kermesbeere	x	x				xxx
Sagittaria latifolia	Breitblättriges Pfeilkraut	x	x				x
Sedum spurium	Kaukasus-Fettkraut	xx	xx	x	x	x	x
Sedum stoloniferum	Ausläuferbildendes Fettkraut		xx
Symphoricarpos albus	Schneebeere	xxx	xx

*Taxonomische Aktualisierung: Gemäss Checkliste 2017 bilden Parthenocissus inserta und P. quinquefoglia das Aggregat P. quinquefoglia aggr. Es ist daher möglich, dass es sich bei den beiden Arten um eine einzige handelt, mit dem gleichen invasiven Potenzial.