Invasive species are the second biggest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. Learn how you can identify and remove invasive plants.
Report It
The City jointly relies on Edmontonians to spot and report invasive plants on public and private property. Call 311 or report them online.
Spot It - Identification
Learn more about the weeds regulated by the Alberta Weed Control Act. The information includes how these weeds can be identified and why they are regulated.
To find a regulated weed faster, all weeds are separated into categories based on their regulatory designation, their growth form and the colour of their flower.
Note: The following will only look up regulated weed species under the Alberta Weed Control Act; other plants or nuisance weeds are not included.
Removing Invasive Plants
Most invasive plants can be removed by following these steps:
- Use a trowel to loosen the soil around the roots of the plant.
- Wearing gloves, grab the plant by the thickest part of the stem, as close to the ground as possible.
- Pull straight up on the plant.
- The plant, as well as its roots, should pull out of the ground. If not, loosen more soil from around the roots.
- You may need to dig out any broken roots that did not pull out with the plant.
If the plant has already produced seeds, it is important to carefully remove and dispose of these before attempting to remove the plant. Use a sharp pair of scissors or garden pruners to cut off the seed heads before following the removal steps.
Place in Garbage
All removed invasive plant parts must go in the garbage (black waste bin), not the compost (green bin). This helps to prevent their spread.
Learn more about what goes where on WasteWise.
Noxious and Prohibited Noxious Plants
There are 75 plants listed on the Alberta Weed Control Act. They are either:
Noxious: These plants must be controlled. All reproductive parts (seeds, roots, spreading stems) must be removed to prevent these plants from spreading into new areas.
Prohibited noxious: These plants must be destroyed. All plant parts (including seeds and roots) must be removed and destroyed by being sealed in a bag and thrown in the garbage.
Japanese knotweed is a vigorously invasive plant that is present in small numbers in Edmonton, and is prohibited noxious in Alberta.
It has the potential to cause damage to concrete infrastructure, such as foundations, roads and sewers by growing through tiny cracks. If you suspect you have Japanese knotweed on your property, please email invasiveweeds@edmonton.ca to learn how to best manage this plant.
Contact Us
Weed Identification
Email invasiveweeds@edmonton.ca
Phone In Edmonton: 311 | Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Link Online