This table lists all species profiled on PIER with the growth habit = "shrub". An alphabetical index to all PIER species is also available. It includes those of environmental concern (including those that are probably of threat only to islands with high elevations) as well as agricultural and ruderal weeds. Each species is linked by its scientific name to an individual write-up containing relevant information.
Species are listed in alphabetic order. You can browse this list or use the "find" function on your web browser to search by scientific name.
Can't find it here? Check the list of synonyms for other names (the more common synonyms are included below) or search other lists and databases available on the Internet.
Stumped by botanical terms? Here are links to a brief glossary and a search engine for botanical terms.
| Scientific name (+Family) | Often-used other Latin names | Habit |
Present on
Pacific Islands? |
Primarily a threat at
high elevations? |
| Abrus precatorius (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Abutilon grandifolium (Malvaceae) | Sida grandifolia Willd. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Abutilon indicum (Malvaceae) | Sida indica L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Acacia boliviana (Fabaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Acacia farnesiana (Fabaceae) | Mimosa farnesiana L.; Vachellia farnesiana (L.) Wight & Arn. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Acacia holosericea (Fabaceae) | Racosperma holosericeum (A. Cunn. ex G. Don) Pedley | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Acacia spp. (Fabaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Annona cherimola (Annonaceae) | shrub | Yes | Yes | |
| Ardisia crenata (Myrsinaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Ardisia elliptica (Myrsinaceae) | Ardisia humilis Vahl; Ardisia solanacea Roxb.; Ardisia squamulosa Pr. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Artabotrys hexapetalus (Annonaceae) | Artabotrys odoratissimus R. Br. ex Ker Gawl.; Artabotrys uncinatus (Lam.) Merr. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Asparagus falcatus (Liliaceae) | Protasparagus falcatus (L.) Oberm. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Baccharis halimifolia (Asteraceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Barleria cristata (Acanthaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Barleria lupulina (Acanthaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Barleria prionitis (Acanthaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Batis maritima (Bataceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Bauhinia acuminata (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Bixa orellana (Bixaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Bocconia frutescens (Papaveraceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Breynia disticha (Euphorbiaceae) | Breynia nivosa (W. Bull) Small; Phyllanthus nivosus W. G. Sm. (also varieties and cultivars) | shrub | Yes | No |
| Brucea javanica (Simaroubaceae) | Brucea amarissima (Lour.) Desv. ex Gomes; Brucea sumatrana Roxb.; Gonus amarissimus Lour.; Rhus javanica L. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Brugmansia suaveolens (Solanaceae) | Datura suaveolens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) | shrub | Yes | No |
| Buddleja asiatica (Buddlejaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Buddleja davidii (Buddlejaceae) | Buddleia davidii Franch. | shrub | Yes | Yes |
| Buddleja madagascariensis (Buddlejaceae) | Buddleia madagascarienses Lam.; Buddleya madagascariensis Lam. | shrub | Yes | Yes |
| Caesalpinia decapetala (Fabaceae) | Caesalpinia septaria Roxb. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Fabaceae) | Poinciana pulcherrima L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Caesalpinia sappan (Fabaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Cajanus cajan (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Calliandra calothyrsus (Fabaceae) | Calliandra houstoniana (Mill.) Standl. var. acapulcensis (Mill.) Barneby; Calliandra houstoniana (Miller) Standl. var. calothyrsus (Meisn.) Barneby | shrub | Yes | No |
| Calliandra haematocephala (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Calliandra surinamensis (Fabaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Callicarpa japonica (Verbenaceae) | Callicarpa glabra Koidz. [= Callicarpa japonica var. luxurians] | shrub | Yes | No |
| Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) | Asclepias procera Aiton | shrub | Yes | No |
| Carludovica palmata (Cyclanthaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Cestrum auriculatum (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Cestrum diurnum (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Cestrum nocturnum (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Cestrum parqui (Solanaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Chamaecrista nictitans (Fabaceae) | Cassia aeschinomene DC. ex Collad. (=Chamaecrista nictitans var. glabrata (Vogel) H. S. Irwin & Barneby); Cassia lechenaultiana DC.(sometimes misspelled Cassia leschenaultiana) (=Chamaecrista nictitans var. glabrata (Vogel) H. S. Irwin & Barneby); Cassia mimosoides sensu auct. non L. (in Sykes, 1970); Cassia nictitans L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) | Eupatorium odoratum L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Chromolaena squalida (Asteraceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Chrysobalanus icaco (Chrysobalanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Clerodendrum buchananii var. fallax (Verbenaceae) | Clerodendrum speciosissimum van Geert ex Morren (although there is disagreement as to whether or not these species are synonymous per Smith, 1985). | shrub | Yes | No |
| Clerodendrum chinense (Verbenaceae) | Clerodendrum fragrans (Hort. ex Vent.) Willd.; Clerodendrum philippinum Schauer | shrub | Yes | No |
| Clerodendrum japonicum (Verbenaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Clerodendrum macrostegium (Verbenaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Clerodendrum paniculatum (Verbenaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Clerodendrum quadriloculare (Verbenaceae) | Ligustrum quadriloculare Blanco | shrub | Yes | No |
| Clidemia hirta (Melastomataceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Clitoria laurifolia (Fabaceae) | Clitoria cajanifolia (C. Presl) Benth. | shrub | No | No |
| Conocarpus erectus (Combretaceae) | Terminalia erecta (L.)Baill. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Conyza leucantha (Asteraceae) | Conyza viscidula | shrub | Yes | No |
| Cordia curassavica (Boraginaceae) | Cordia macrostachya (Jacquin) Roemer & Schultes | shrub | No | No |
| Cotoneaster pannosus (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | Yes | |
| Crotalaria goreensis (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Crotalaria grahamiana (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Crotalaria incana (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Crotalaria longirostrata (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Crotalaria micans (Fabaceae) | Crotalaria anagyroides Kunth | shrub | Yes | No |
| Crotalaria pallida (Fabaceae) | Crotalaria mucronata Desv.; Crotalaria striata DC. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Cuphea ignea (Lythraceae) | Parsonia ignea (A. DC) Standl. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Datura metel (Solanaceae) | Datura fastuosa L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Desmodium incanum (Fabaceae) | Desmodium canum Schinz & Thell., nom. illeg. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Desmodium nicaraguense (Fabaceae) | Meibomia nicaraguensis (Oerst.) Kuntze; Meibomia rensoni Painter | shrub | Yes | No |
| Dichrostachys cinerea (Fabaceae) | Cailliea glomerata (Forsskal) J.F. Macbr.; Dichrostachys glomerata (Forssk.) Chiov.; Dichrostachys nutans (Pers.) Benth.; Mimosa cinerea L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Dillenia suffruticosa (Dilleniaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Duranta erecta (Verbenaceae) | Duranta repens L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Elaeagnus umbellata (Elaeagnaceae) | Elaeagnus parvifolia Royle | shrub | Yes | Yes |
| Erythrina corallodendrum (Fabaceae) | Erythrina corallodendron L. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Euphorbia pulcherrima (Euphorbiaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Flemingia strobilifera (Fabaceae) | Moghania strobilifera (L.) J.St.-Hil. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Frangula californica (Rhamnaceae) | Rhamnus californica Eschsch. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Fuchsia arborescens (Onagraceae) | shrub | No | Yes | |
| Fuchsia magellanica (Onagraceae) | shrub | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuchsia paniculata (Onagraceae) | shrub | Yes | Yes | |
| Gmelina asiatica (Verbenaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Gmelina elliptica (Verbenaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Asclepiadaceae) | Asclepias physocarpa (E. Mey.) Schlechter | shrub | Yes | No |
| Gossypium barbadense (Malvaceae) | Gossypium brasiliense sensu Okabe non Macf.; Gossypium peruvianum Cav. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Hamelia patens (Rubiaceae) | Hamelia erecta Jacq.; Hamelia nodosa M. Martens & Galeotti | shrub | Yes | No |
| Hibiscus sabdariffa (Malvaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Hiptage benghalensis (Malpighiaceae) | Hiptage madablota Gaertn.; Triopteris jamaicensis L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Hypericum androsaemum (Clusiaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Hypericum canariense (Clusiaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Ilex cassine (Aquifoliaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Indigofera hirsuta (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Indigofera suffruticosa (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa (Convolvulaceae) | Ipomoea fistulosa Mart. ex Choisy | shrub | Yes | No |
| Ixora coccinea (Rubiaceae) | Ixora lutea Hutch. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Jasminum dichotomum (Oleaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Jatropha gossypiifolia (Euphorbiaceae) | Adenoropium gossypiifolium (L.) Pohl. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Justicia carnea (Acanthaceae) | Jacobinia carnea Hooker | shrub | Yes | No |
| Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Leptospermum laevigatum (Myrtaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Leptospermum polygalifolium (Myrtaceae) | Leptospermum flavescens Sm. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Ligustrum japonicum (Oleaceae) | Ligustrum coriaceum Carrière | shrub | Yes | No |
| Ligustrum lucidum (Oleaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Ligustrum robustum (Oleaceae) | Ligustrum walkeri Decne. | shrub/tree | No | No |
| Ligustrum sinense (Oleaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Lycium chinense (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Malvastrum tomentosum (Malvaceae) | Malva tomentosa L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Malvaviscus arboreus (Malvaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Malvaviscus penduliflorus (Malvaceae) | Malvaviscus arboreus var. penduliflorus (DC.) Schery | shrub | Yes | No |
| Medinilla cummingii (Melastomataceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Medinilla magnifica (Melastomataceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Medinilla venosa (Melastomataceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Melaleuca nesophila (Myrtaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Melastoma sanguineum (Melastomataceae) | Melastoma decemfidum Roxb. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Melochia umbellata (Sterculiaceae) | Melochia compacta Hochr.; Melochia indica A. Gray | shrub | Yes | No |
| Memecylon floribundum (Melastomataceae) | Melochia caeruleum | shrub | No | No |
| Mimosa diplotricha (Fabaceae) | Mimosa invisa Mart., nom. illeg. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Mimosa pigra (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Montanoa hibiscifolia (Asteraceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Murraya paniculata (Rutaceae) | Chalca spaniculata L.; Murraya exotica L. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Nerium oleander (Apocynaceae) | Nerium indicum Mill. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Ochna kirkii (Ochnaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Ochna serrulata (Ochnaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Ochna thomasiana (Ochnaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Odontonema cuspidatum (Acanthaceae) | Odontonema strictum hort.; Thyrsacanthus cuspidatus Nees | shrub | Yes | No |
| Odontonema tubaeforme (Acanthaceae) | Justicia coccinea hort. ; Justicia tubaeformis Bertol.; Odontonema strictum (Nees) O. Kuntze; Odontonema tubiforme (Bertol.) Kuntze; Thyrsacanthus strictus Nees | shrub | Yes | No |
| Ossaea marginata (Melastomataceae) | Clidemia marginata (Desr.) DC.; Melastoma marginata Desr.; Pentossaea marginata (Desr.) Judd | shrub | No | No |
| Oxyspora paniculata (Melastomataceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Paraserianthes lophantha (Fabaceae) | Albizia distachya (Vent.) J. F. Macbr.; Albizia lophantha (Willd.) Benth.; Albizia montana (Jungh.) Benth.; Inga montana Jungh. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Pereskia aculeata (Cactaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Philadelphus karwinskyanus (Hydrangeaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Photinia davidiana (Rosaceae) | Stransvaesia davidiana Decne. | shrub | Yes | Yes |
| Phyllostachys aurea (Poaceae) | Phyllostachys formosana Hayata | shrub | Yes | No |
| Phyllostachys bissetii (Poaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Phyllostachys flexuosa (Poaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Phyllostachys nigra (Poaceae) | Bambusa nigra Lodd. ex Lindl. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Physalis peruviana (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Phytolacca octandra (Phytolaccaceae) | Phytolacca icosandra L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Piper aduncum (Piperaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Piper auritum (Piperaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Pittosporum pentandrum (Pittosporaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Pittosporum tobira (Pittosporaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Pluchea carolinensis (Asteraceae) | Conyza carolinensis Jacq.; Pluchea symphytifolia auct. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Pluchea indica (Asteraceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Prunus cerasifera (Rosaceae) | shrub/tree | No | No | |
| Prunus grisea (Rosaceae) | Pygeum griseum Blume ex Müll. Berol.; Pygeum latifolium Miq.; Pygeum preslii Merr. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Pseuderanthemum carruthersii (Acanthaceae) | Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum (W. Bull) Radlk.; Pseuderanthemum reticulatum Radlk. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Psidium guineense (Myrtaceae) | Psidium aracá Raddi; Psidium molle Bertol; Psidium schiedeanum Berg. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Pyracantha angustifolia (Rosaceae) | Cotoneaster angustifolia Franch.; Pyracantha koidzumii (Hayata) Rehder | shrub | Yes | Yes |
| Rauvolfia vomitoria (Apocynaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Rhaphiolepis indica (Rosaceae) | Crataegus indica L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Rhododendron indicum (Ericaceae) | Azalea indica L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Rosa laevigata (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | Yes | |
| Rosa multiflora (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | Yes | |
| Rubus adenotrichos (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Rubus alceifolius (Rosaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Rubus argutus (Rosaceae) | Rubus penetrans L. H. Bailey | shrub | Yes | No |
| Rubus discolor (Rosaceae) | Rubus armeniacus Focke | shrub | Yes | No |
| Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | Yes | |
| Rubus glaucus (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | Yes | |
| Rubus megalococcus (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Rubus moluccanus (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Rubus niveus (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Rubus rosifolius (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Rubus sieboldii (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Rubus ulmifolius (Rosaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Russelia equisetiformis (Scrophulariaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Sanchezia parvibracteata (Acanthaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Sanchezia speciosa (Acanthaceae) | Sanchezia nobilis often misapplied; it is a separate species. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Schefflera arboricola (Araliaceae) | Heptapleurum arboricola Hayata | shrub | Yes | No |
| Senna alata (Fabaceae) | Cassia alata L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Senna bicapsularis (Fabaceae) | Cassia bicapsularis L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Senna hirsuta (Fabaceae) | Cassia hirsuta L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Senna multiglandulosa (Fabaceae) | Cassia tomentosa L. f. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Senna occidentalis (Fabaceae) | Cassia occidentalis L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Senna pendula (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Senna septemtrionalis (Fabaceae) | Cassia laevigata Willd.; Cassia septemtrionalis Viv. | shrub/tree | Yes | No |
| Senna tora (Fabaceae) | Cassia tora L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Sesbania cannabina (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Sesbania punicea (Fabaceae) | Daubentonia punicea (Cav.) DC.; Piscidia punicea Cav. | shrub | No | No |
| Sesbania sesban (Fabaceae) | Aeschynomene sesban L.; Sesban aegyptiacus Poir.; Sesbania aegyptiaca (Poir.) Pers. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Sida cordifolia (Malvaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Sida glomerata (Malvaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae) | Sida microphylla Cav. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Sida urens (Malvaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Sidastrum micranthum (Malvaceae) | Sida micranthum St. Hil. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Sidastrum paniculatum (Malvaceae) | Sida paniculata L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Solanum linnaeanum (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Solanum mammosum (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae) | Solanum auriculatum Ait.; Solanum verbascifolium L. var. auriculatum (Ait.) Ktze. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Solanum pseudocapsicum (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Solanum quitoense (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Solanum robustum (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Solanum torvum (Solanaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Spartium junceum (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Stylosanthes scabra (Fabaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Tamarix aphylla (Tamaricaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Tamarix gallica (Tamaricaceae) | shrub/tree | No | No | |
| Tephrosia candida (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Tephrosia glomeruliflora (Fabaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Tetrazygia bicolor (Melastomataceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Tibouchina herbacea (Melastomataceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Tibouchina urvilleana (Melastomataceae) | Tibouchina semidecandra (DC.) Cogn. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Triphasia trifolia (Rutaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Triumfetta rhomboidea (Tiliaceae) | Triamfetta bartramia L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Triumfetta semitriloba (Tiliaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Ulex europaeus (Fabaceae) | shrub | Yes | No | |
| Urena lobata (Malvaceae) | Urena sinuata L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Vitex parviflora (Verbenaceae) | shrub/tree | Yes | No | |
| Waltheria indica (Sterculiaceae) | Waltheria americana L. | shrub | Yes | No |
| Wikstroemia indica (Thymelaeaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Wikstroemia ridleyi (Thymelaeaceae) | shrub | No | No | |
| Yucca aloifolia (Agavaceae) | shrub | Yes | No |