The State of Colorado classifies noxious weeds into three lists, with List A (mandatory elimination), List B (regional eradication), and List C (mandatory control for county-level management) to prevent their spread and impact on public health, agriculture, and property. Key examples of Colorado noxious weeds include Leafy Spurge, Diffuse Knapweed, Yellow Toadflax, and Field Bindweed. For a comprehensive and up-to-date list, refer to resources from the Colorado Department of Agriculture (.gov) or the EDDMapS database.
List A Species – Mandatory Elimination
African rue (Peganum harmala)
Camelthorn (Alhagi pseudalhagi)
Common crupina (Crupina vulgaris)
Cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)
Dyer’s woad (Isatis tinctoria)
Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Meadow knapweed (Centaurea pratensis)
Mediterranean sage (Salvia aethiopis)
Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae)
Myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites)
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)
Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)
Squarrose knapweed (Centaurea virgata)
Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
List C Species – Regulated by Counties
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Common burdock (Arctium minus)
Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)
Downy brome (Bromus tectorum)
Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus)
Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica)
Perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris)
Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)
Wild proso millet (Panicum miliaceum
List B Species – Regional Control
Absinth wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
Bouncingbet (Saponaria officinalis)
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Chinese clematis (Clematis orientalis)
Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis)
Cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)
Dalmatian toadflax, broad-leaved (Linaria dalmatica)
Dalmatian toadflax, narrow-leaved (Linaria genistifolia)
Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Hoary cress (Cardaria draba)
Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)
Mayweed chamomile (Anthemis cotula)
Moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria)
Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)
Orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)
Oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)
Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)
Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides)
Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens)
Redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium)
Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens)
Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
Salt cedar (Tamarix chinensis, T.parviflora, and T. ramosissima)
Scentless chamomile (Matricaria perforata)
Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium)
Scotch thistle (Onopordum tauricum)
Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
Spurred anoda (Anoda cristata)
Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)
Venice mallow (Hibiscus trionum)
Wild caraway (Carum carvi)
Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)