Awaiting expert review. This page covers safety or regulatory rules that change over time. It is kept out of search results until a qualified reviewer has checked it; the sources below are dated so you can verify each point.
Quick answer
Invasive plants in landscaping are non-native plants, often sold for yards, that spread on their own beyond where they were planted and cause or are likely to cause harm to the environment, farming or health.
Whether a plant counts as invasive depends on where you live. There is no single national list for home landscapes, so you check your own state and region.
Quick facts
The key facts about Invasive Plants in Landscaping, with sources:
- Common definition
- A non-native plant whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm (USDA Forest Service, as quoted by Iowa State) 1
- Who lists them
- States keep their own lists; a state department of agriculture, natural resources agency or invasive species council usually runs them 156
- Federal list
- The APHIS federal noxious weed list under 7 CFR 360.200 controls import and interstate movement of listed weeds, not what you plant at home 3
- Binding or advisory
- Varies. New Hampshire’s rule bans moving or selling listed plants; Missouri’s page does not say its list regulates sale 46
- Cultivars
- New Hampshire’s rule covers all cultivars and varieties of a listed plant 4
- Still sold
- A study found 61 percent of 1,285 invasive or noxious species were available from nurseries or online sellers 7
Key takeaways
- There is no single national list of invasive plants for yards. Iowa State says each state keeps its own list of invasive or noxious weeds 1.
- The same plant can be treated differently in different states. Norway maple is on New Hampshire’s prohibited list and is a regulated plant in New York that must carry a warning label 45.
- Selling a plant does not mean it is safe. A study reported by UC Davis found 61 percent of 1,285 invasive or noxious species were available for purchase, and half of the state-regulated species were still sold 7.
- Check three things: your state list, whether it is law or advice, and the exact cultivar. New Hampshire’s rule covers all cultivars and varieties of a listed plant 4.
- This page names plants only as examples from a state source. Do not treat any example as your state’s list.
A plant that escapes the garden and does harm
Iowa State Extension quotes the USDA Forest Service: an invasive plant is a non-native plant to the ecosystem under consideration whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm.
Invasive plants spread quickly and are hard to control, mainly by producing abundant seeds that travel by wind, water or animals, and many also form dense, spreading roots. They often tolerate difficult sites and outcompete native plants 1.
The National Invasive Species Information Center, run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives a similar definition: plants, animals or pathogens that are non-native to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm 2.
New Hampshire’s law defines an invasive species as an alien species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health 4.
Many invasive plants were brought in as ornamentals. Missouri’s Department of Conservation says some, such as Callery pear, are still grown, promoted, sold and purchased 6. That is why a yard guide must cover them.
This page covers the term and the checking method. It does not list plants for your state. For plants that belong to a region, read native landscaping. For a planting job, read our planting and garden beds guide.
Who makes a list, and whether it binds you
Federal. The Plant Protection Act defines a noxious weed as any plant or plant product that can directly or indirectly injure or damage crops, livestock, natural resources, public health or the environment.
APHIS regulates import and interstate movement of federal noxious weeds under 7 CFR 360, and the regulated taxa are listed in 7 CFR 360.200 3. It does not decide what a homeowner may plant.
APHIS adds that you do not need a federal permit to move a non-federal noxious weed within the country, and that you can check the National Plant Board for state-regulated noxious weeds and contact states about their rules 3.
State. Each state sets its own. Iowa State says plants on its lists are normally not sold within the state to help limit their spread. It also says noxious weeds are set by the state legislature and the state agriculture department, while a separate list is kept by the natural resources department 1.
Regional. Iowa State points to the Midwest Invasive Plant Network, which covers Iowa and surrounding states 1. A regional group can set an assessment even where no state law exists.
Advisory. Missouri’s Department of Conservation adopted the Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s assessment as the state’s invasive plant list in 2019, but its page does not say whether any plant is legally banned 6.
Extension warnings. Clemson cautions about plants known to become invasive and names English ivy and periwinkle as escaping into natural areas in South Carolina 9. Iowa State notes that burning bush is potentially invasive but not officially listed 1.
- Federal noxious weed list (APHIS)Controls import and interstate movement of listed weeds; 7 CFR 360.200 3
- State law or ruleMay ban moving or selling listed plants; New Hampshire and New York are examples 45
- State or regional council assessmentMay be advisory; Missouri adopted a council assessment as its list 6
- Extension and nursery adviceWarnings about plants not yet listed, such as burning bush in Iowa 1
- Local rules and HOA covenantsCan add limits on what you plant or must remove
The layers differ by state. Check which layers exist where you live. Source: [3] [4] [5] [6] [1]
The same plant, treated differently by state
| State and source | Plant (as printed) | How the state treats it | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire, Dept. of Agriculture rule Agr 3802.01 | Norway maple, Japanese barberry, tree of heaven, garlic mustard, Oriental bittersweet, common buckthorn, multiflora rose | On the prohibited list: no person shall collect, transport, import, export, move, buy, sell, distribute, propagate or transplant any living portion, including cultivars and varieties 4 | State rule (law) |
| New York, Dept. of Agriculture and Markets | Norway maple, Japanese virgin’s bower, burning bush, winter creeper, Chinese silver grass, black locust | Regulated plants, sold only with a warning label that reads “INVASIVE SPECIES - HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT” in 14-point font; 69 other plants are prohibited 5 | State rule (law) |
| Missouri Dept. of Conservation | Callery pear, autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, kudzu, wintercreeper and others | Adopted the Missouri Invasive Plant Council assessment as the state list in 2019; the page does not say whether sale is restricted 6 | Official list; legal effect not stated |
| Iowa State Extension | Burning bush, barberry | Potentially invasive in home landscapes; burning bush is not officially listed 1 | Extension advice |
| University of New Hampshire Extension | Creeping Jenny, common periwinkle, bishop’s weed, winter creeper euonymus | Not to be planted; on the state’s prohibited or watch lists 8 | Extension summary of a state list |
| Clemson Extension (South Carolina) | English ivy, periwinkle | Can escape into natural areas; guard against plants known to become invasive 9 | Extension advice |
Norway maple shows why a national list does not work
New Hampshire prohibits moving or selling Norway maple, while New York allows sale with a warning label 45. Neither state source says the other is wrong. The rules reflect each state’s own assessment, so a plant that is fine in one place can be illegal in the next.
Example: checking a plant before you buy it
The plant, state and answers below are invented to show the method. The steps themselves come from the sources cited.
| Question to ask | Where to look | What an answer looks like (example) |
|---|---|---|
| Is it on my state’s list? | State department of agriculture, natural resources agency or invasive species council list 15 | Listed as prohibited, regulated, or not listed |
| Is the list law or advice? | The page’s own wording; New Hampshire’s rule quotes a legal ban, while Missouri’s page does not say 46 | Law, or an official but non-binding assessment |
| Does it cover this cultivar? | The rule or list text; New Hampshire covers all cultivars and varieties, while New York exempts certain cultivars 45 | Covered, exempt or silent |
| Is it a federal noxious weed? | APHIS Federal Noxious Weed list 3 | Listed or not; this affects shipping, not planting |
| What does the nursery say? | Tag, staff, and a written note on the bid | A name and a cultivar, in writing |
If the answers are unclear, choose a plant from your local Extension native or alternatives list instead. Missouri’s advice is to choose Missouri’s native species when buying plants for landscaping 6. Iowa State links a separate article on alternatives to common invasive plants 1.
Where the term shows up: nurseries, bids, covenants and notices
Plant tags and shelves. New York requires a warning label on regulated plants 5. In states without that rule, a tag may say nothing. Ask staff by cultivar name.
Planting plans and bids. A plan should name every plant. A bid that says “ornamental shrubs” with no names cannot be checked. See our landscaping estimates guide.
Warranties. If a plant is later found to be banned, ask who removes and replaces it. See plant warranties.
HOA and city notices. Local rules can add to state rules. See HOA landscaping research.
Ground covers and lawn alternatives. Many problem plants are sold as easy ground covers. See ground cover plants.
What checking does, and what it cannot do
What checking can do
- Avoids planting something your state bans, which in New Hampshire is a rule violation 4.
- Keeps a yard plant from spreading into natural areas, which Clemson and Missouri both warn about 96.
- Saves the cost of removing a plant that becomes a problem. Iowa State says control can take several years of persistence 1.
- Gives you a basis to ask a nursery for native alternatives 6.
What checking cannot do
- Cannot guarantee a plant is safe. Iowa State says new cultivars appear each year, often with little long-term data on growth or spread 1.
- Cannot rely on a list being complete. Iowa State notes burning bush is potentially invasive but not officially listed 1.
- Cannot override a different rule next door. A state line changes the answer.
- Cannot replace a local expert. Ask your Cooperative Extension office or state agency.
Limits and open points
We give no list. The lists differ by state and change over time, so a page written for every reader cannot be right for yours. The plants named here are examples from one source each.
Legal effect is not always stated. Missouri’s page does not say whether its listed plants are legally restricted 6. Penn State’s page we read did not describe Pennsylvania’s list at all, so we do not cite it.
Rule text can be old. The New Hampshire rule we read is the version published by Cornell’s Legal Information Institute, noted as effective 1/9/2017 and expiring 1/9/2027 4. The state publishes its list annually, so check the state’s own page for the current table.
Study scope. The UC Davis post reports one study of vendors and does not break results down for California 7. We read the post, not the paper.
NISIC does not give state lists. Its Resources by Location page is organized by continent and country, with the United States as a single entry 2. We did not find a state-by-state list there.
What drives the cost when an invasive plant is already in the yard
We do not print prices on a glossary page. These factors change a removal bid.
Size and spread. A single young plant differs from a thicket or a large tree. Large trees are tree work; see tree service and the tree removal cost tool.
Method. Iowa State lists digging, hand-pulling, repeated pruning, herbicides and blocking light with coverings, and says multiple methods often work best 1.
Repeat visits. Iowa State says control can take several years of persistence 1. A bid that treats removal as a one-day job may miss regrowth.
Disposal and replanting. Where cut material can go is set locally. Ask your waste authority. Replacement plants add their own lines. See the cost hub.
Licensed application. Some herbicides need a licensed applicator. See lawn chemical safety.
How to check and what to do, step by step
A homeowner’s order, built from the sources cited. It is not legal advice.
- Find your state’s list. Search for your state department of agriculture, natural resources department or invasive species council. Iowa State says each state keeps a list 1. NISIC’s Resources by Location can lead you to U.S. resources 2.
- Read what the list does. Check whether it bans moving, selling or growing, or only advises. Compare New Hampshire’s legal ban with Missouri’s official but unspecified list 46.
- Check the cultivar. New Hampshire’s rule includes all cultivars and varieties; New York exempts certain cultivars 45.
- Check your region too. A regional council such as the Midwest Invasive Plant Network may cover plants your state has not listed 1.
- Ask the nursery for the full plant name in writing, and ask whether it is listed in your state.
- If the plant is already in your yard, learn the options. Iowa State lists digging, hand-pulling, repeated pruning, herbicides, blocking light with coverings and, in some areas, burning, and says multiple methods often work best 1. Burning is regulated and is not a homeowner method.
- Dispose of removed plants as your local rules require. Do not move listed plants. New Hampshire bans transporting and moving them 4.
Keeping a yard from re-seeding itself
Re-check each season. Invasive plants spread by seed, runners and roots, so regrowth is common. Iowa State says control can take several years 1.
Watch the edges. Plants next to a lawn or natural area can spread there. UNH says some groundcovers spread into lawns, gardens and natural areas, and it advises planting some only where sidewalks or buildings limit spread 8. See landscape edging for one way to contain spreaders.
Replace removed plants with something suited to the site. See drought-tolerant plants and, for a move, transplanting landscape plants.
Keep records of what you planted and when. They help if a plant is later listed.
Warning signs, and when to get help
Spread. A plant that seeds or suckers across the yard, into a neighbor’s property or into a natural area is behaving like an invasive. Missouri’s Department of Conservation says invasive plants can harm native wildlife, outdoor recreation, working lands and the economy 6.
Notice. A letter from a city, county or state agency about a listed plant is a legal matter. Ask the agency what it requires.
Large or hard-to-reach plants. Climbing vines in trees and tall invasive trees are a job for a qualified arborist. See tree removal permit rules.
This page is not a diagnosis or legal advice. To hire help, read how to choose a landscaping company.
Follow the label, the law and 811
A herbicide label is federal law, and some products can be used only by a licensed applicator. Never use a product against its label. Call 811 before digging out roots.
Do not climb, cut near power lines or remove large trees yourself, and do not move or dump listed plants. New Hampshire, for example, bans transporting and moving them 4.
Who sets the rule: authority, instrument and date
| Authority | Instrument and date | What it does | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA APHIS (federal) | Plant Protection Act section 403 definition; 7 CFR 360.200 list of regulated taxa | Requires permits to import or move listed federal noxious weeds between states; does not regulate what you plant | APHIS 3 |
| New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food | N.H. Admin. Code Agr 3802.01(b), statutory authority RSA 430:55; version effective 1/9/2017 | Bans collecting, transporting, moving, buying, selling, distributing, propagating or transplanting listed plants, including cultivars | Cornell LII 4 |
| New York Department of Agriculture and Markets | Regulations adopted July 28, 2014; effective March 10, 2015 | Prohibits 69 plants; sells six regulated plants only with a warning label | NY Agriculture and Markets 5 |
| Missouri Department of Conservation | Adopted the Missouri Invasive Plant Council assessment in 2019 | Official state invasive plant list; whether sale is restricted is not stated | MDC 6 |
| EPA and the product label | Label is the legal instrument | Who may apply, where, how much and how often; using a product against its label violates federal law | Federal law; see our chemical safety guide |
Invasive, noxious, native and aggressive compared
| Term | The difference | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Invasive plant (this page) | Non-native, spreads and causes or is likely to cause harm 1 | You are here |
| Noxious weed | A legal term. Federal: Plant Protection Act definition 3. State: set by legislature and agriculture department in Iowa 1 | Check your state |
| Native plant | Belongs to the region; can still be aggressive in a bed | Plants native to a region |
| Aggressive ground cover | Spreads fast and may escape; UNH says some are extremely aggressive 8 | Aggressive ground covers |
| Integrated pest management | Weed and pest control by steps, with the label as law | Integrated pest management for landscapes |
Myths about invasive landscape plants
- Myth If a nursery sells it, it is legal and safe.
- Reality A study found 50 percent of state-regulated species were still being sold 7. Some were sold where they are regulated.
- Myth There is one national list.
- Reality Iowa State says each state keeps its own list 1. The federal list is narrower and covers movement, not planting 3.
- Myth All invasive plants are weeds you can see on roadsides.
- Reality Many were bred as ornamentals. Missouri says Callery pear is still grown, promoted, sold and purchased 6.
- Myth A new cultivar is automatically safe.
- Reality Iowa State notes new cultivars appear each year with little long-term data on spread 1. New Hampshire’s ban covers all cultivars and varieties 4.
- Myth Not on the list means not invasive.
- Reality Iowa State says burning bush is potentially invasive but not officially listed 1.
What changes by state: the list, the law and the label
Invasive-plant rules are a state-by-state topic. A state department of agriculture, a natural resources agency or an invasive species council keeps the list, and the rules differ in every state. New Hampshire bans moving and selling its listed plants 4.
New York requires a warning label on six regulated plants and bans 69 others 5. Missouri adopted a council assessment as its official list 6.
Iowa lists state noxious weeds separately from its DNR invasive plant list and points to a regional network 1. Check your own state first, then the region, and use the research pages for local rules about trees, associations and watering.
When to check, and your next step
Check before you buy any shrub, vine, ground cover or tree, before you accept a plant from a neighbor, and before you move a plant you already have. Check again if a plant starts spreading.
Your next step is to find your state list, read whether it is law or advice, and ask the nursery for the full plant name.
If a plant is already a problem, ask your Cooperative Extension office about control for your state. Find a landscaping company when you want help. HyreYard does not plant, remove or sell anything.
- If It is prohibited in your state
- Then Do not buy, plant, move or sell it; ask the state agency how to remove it 4
- If It is regulated with a warning label
- Then Read the label; consider an alternative 5
- If It is on an advisory list only
- Then Treat it as a warning and choose a native alternative 6
- If It is not listed but spreads
- Then Contain or remove it; extension says some are not yet listed 1
- If You cannot tell
- Then Ask your Cooperative Extension office before planting
Questions about Invasive Plants in Landscaping
What is an invasive plant?
Iowa State Extension quotes the USDA Forest Service: a non-native plant to the ecosystem under consideration whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm. Invasive plants spread quickly and are hard to control, mainly through abundant seeds carried by wind, water or animals, and through dense, spreading roots.
Is there a national list of invasive plants for yards?
We did not find one. Iowa State says each state keeps its own list of invasive or noxious weeds. APHIS keeps a federal noxious weed list, but it controls importing and moving listed weeds between states, not what you plant at home. Check your own state, then your region.
How do I find out which plants are invasive in my state?
Look for your state department of agriculture, natural resources department or invasive species council, which usually publish the list. A regional group, such as the Midwest Invasive Plant Network for Iowa and nearby states, may add more. Your Cooperative Extension office can also point to local advice.
Is it illegal to plant invasive plants?
It depends on the state. New Hampshire’s rule bans collecting, transporting, moving, buying, selling, distributing, propagating or transplanting listed plants, including all cultivars and varieties. New York prohibits 69 plants and regulates six with warning labels. Missouri’s official list does not say sale is banned.
Why do nurseries sell invasive plants?
Many were introduced as ornamentals, and rules vary by state. A study reported by UC Davis found 61 percent of 1,285 invasive or noxious species were available for purchase, and 50 percent of state-regulated species were still sold. Some were sold in states that regulate them.
What is the difference between invasive and noxious?
Invasive describes behavior: spreading and causing harm. Noxious weed is a legal term. Under the federal Plant Protection Act, it means any plant that can injure crops, livestock, natural resources, public health or the environment. In Iowa, noxious weeds are set by the legislature and the state agriculture department.
Do native plants spread aggressively too?
Some can in a garden bed, but invasive status applies to non-native plants. A native plant belongs to the region, so Missouri’s Department of Conservation advises choosing the state’s native species when buying plants for landscaping. Check how fast a plant spreads and confirm with your Extension office.
How do I get rid of an invasive plant I already have?
Iowa State lists digging, hand-pulling, repeated pruning, herbicides and blocking light with coverings, and says several methods often work best and control can take several years. Follow every herbicide label, because using a product against its label violates federal law, and hire an arborist for large trees.
Does the plant cultivar matter?
Yes. New Hampshire’s rule covers all cultivars and varieties of a listed plant, while New York exempts certain cultivars from its warning label. Iowa State notes new cultivars appear each year with little long-term data. Ask for the full plant name in writing before you buy.
Can I move or give away a plant from my yard?
Check first. In New Hampshire it is a violation to transport, move, distribute or transplant a listed plant, even a single living piece. Rules in your state may be different or may not exist. Ask your state agency or Cooperative Extension office before sharing cuttings or divisions.
Sources
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden, Invasive Plants FAQs (Cynthia Haynes, last reviewed July 2026), retrieved .
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Invasive Species Information Center, home page and Resources by Location, retrieved .
- USDA APHIS, Federal Noxious Weeds (page printed to PDF 2026-10-14, read as text with pdftotext), retrieved .
- N.H. Admin. Code Agr 3801.02 and Agr 3802.01, NH Prohibited Invasive Species, as published by Cornell Legal Information Institute (version effective 1/9/2017), retrieved .
- New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Invasive Species (prohibited and regulated plants), retrieved .
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Invasive Plants, retrieved .
- UC Davis, UC Weed Science blog, Invasive Ornamentals for Sale (Gale Perez and Marie Jasieniuk, June 12, 2022), a summary of a published study, retrieved .
- University of New Hampshire Extension, Groundcovers for New Hampshire (fact sheet), retrieved .
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Groundcovers: Planting and Care (HGIC 1100, updated November 25, 2019), retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreYard Research Desk. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: This page teaches how to check a state’s rules and publishes no national list. Every plant name is an example from one loaded state or extension source and is labelled with that source.
The New Hampshire rule was read through Cornell’s Legal Information Institute copy (the state’s own page returned HTTP 403), and the APHIS page was read from a PDF print with pdftotext. The UC Davis blog summarizes a study we did not read.
The NISIC page does not offer state lists. A Penn State page on Pennsylvania’s list did not describe the list and is not cited. Held under G-REV: a qualified reviewer, such as a state-licensed applicator or an extension weed scientist, has not signed this page.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.