Minnesota Noxious Weed List

This is the official Minnesota noxious weed list. All species on the Minnesota noxious weed list include all hybrids, cultivars, and varieties unless specifically exempted.

Minnesota noxious weeds are annual, biennial, or perennial plants that the commissioner designates as having the potential or are known to be detrimental to human or animal health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock, or other property. The Commissioner of Agriculture designates noxious weeds, under M.S. 18.771, into five categories. Descriptions of each category are included on this page.

The list is current and will be updated every three years, with the exception of an emergency listing. The most recent update was January 2023 and the next update will be in January 2026.

Prohibited Eradicate Noxious Weeds

The "prohibited-eradicate noxious weeds" category includes noxious weeds that must be eradicated on all lands within the state. Transportation of the propagating parts of prohibited-eradicate noxious weeds is prohibited except as allowed under section 18.82. Prohibited-eradicate noxious weeds may not be sold or propagated in Minnesota. Noxious weeds that are designated as prohibited-eradicate noxious weeds and placed on the prohibited-eradicate noxious weeds list are plants that are not currently known to be present in Minnesota or are not widely established in the state. All prohibited-eradicate noxious weeds must be eradicated.

  Common Name Scientific Name Year added to list
1. Black swallow-wort Cyanchum louiseae Kartesz & Gandhi 2013
2. Brown knapweed Centaurea jacea L. 2013
3. Common teasel Dipsacus fullonum L. 2012
4. Cutleaf teasel Dipsacus laciniatus L. 2012
5. Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill 2012
6. Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa L. 2017
7. Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier 2012
8. Grecian foxglove Digitalis lanata Ehrh. 2010
9. Japanese honeysuckle (and all cultivars) Lonicera japonica Thunb. 2020
10. Japanese hops Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc. 2012
11. Johnsongrass Sorghum halepense L. 2023
12. Pale swallow-wort Cyanchum rossicum Kleopow 2023
13. Palmer amaranth Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson 2015
14. Red hailstone Thladiantha dubia Bunge 2023
15. Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle 2017
16. Yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis L. 2010

Giant hogweed, Johnsongrass, and yellow starthistle are not known to be in Minnesota but have been determined to be a threat to invade the state.

Prohibited Control Noxious Weeds

The "prohibited-control noxious weeds" category includes noxious weeds that must be controlled on all lands within the state. Transportation of the propagating parts of prohibited-control noxious weeds is prohibited except as allowed under section 18.82. Prohibited-control noxious weeds may not be propagated or sold in Minnesota. Noxious weeds that are designated as prohibited-control noxious weeds and placed on the prohibited-control noxious weeds list are plants that are already established throughout the state or regions of the state. At a minimum, these species must be controlled in a way that prevents spread of these species by seed or vegetative means.

  Common Name Scientific Name Year added to list
1. Bohemian knotweed Polygonum x bohemicum (J. Chrtek & Chrtkova) Zika & Jacobson 2020
2. Canada thistle Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. 1872
3. Common barberry Berberis vulgaris L. 2017
4. Common tansy Tanacetum vulgare L. 2010
5. Giant knotweed Polygonum sachalinese F. Schmidt ex Maxim 2014
6. Japanese knotweed Polygonum cuspidatum Seibold & Zucc. 2014
7. Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula L. 1992
8. Meadow knapweed Centaurea x moncktonii C.E. Britton 2013
9. Narrowleaf bittercress Cardamine impatiens L. 2012
10. Non-native phragmites Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex Steud. ssp. australis 2013
11. Plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides L. 1975
12. Poison hemlock Conium maculatum L. 2018
13. Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria L. 1992
14. Round leaf bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. 2011
15. Spotted knapweed Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek 2001
16. Wild parsnip Pastinaca sativa L. (except for non-wild cultivated varieties) 2010

Restricted Noxious Weeds

The "restricted noxious weeds" category includes noxious weeds and their propagating parts that may not be imported, sold, or transported in the state, except as allowed by permit under section 18.82. Noxious weeds that are designated as restricted and placed on the restricted list may be plants that are widely distributed in Minnesota and for which a requirement of eradication or control would not be feasible on a statewide basis using existing practices.

  Common Name Scientific Name Year added to list
1. Amur honeysuckle Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder 2017
2. Amur silvergrass Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Franch. 2023
3. Bell's honeysuckle Lonicera x bella Zabel 2017
4. Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia L. 2017
5. Common or European buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica L. 1999
6. Crown vetch Securigera varia (L.) Lassen 2017
7. European alder Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. 2020
8. Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata Bieb. 2013
9. Glossy buckthorn (and all cultivars) Frangula alnus Mill. 1999
10. Japanese barberry cultivars Berberis thunbergii DC. 2015
11. Lesser celandine Ficaria verna L. 2023
12. Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii A. Gray 2017
13. Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora Thunb. 2012
14. Porcelain berry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Maxim.) Trautv. 2017
15. Saltcedar Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. 2023
16. Siberian peashrub Caragana arborescens Lam. (exemption for Green Spires® Caragana - Caragana 'Jefarb') 2020
17. Tatarian honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica L. 2017
18. Wild carrot/Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota L. 2017
19. Winged burning bush (and all cultivars) Euonymus alatus Thunb. 2020

Japanese barberry cultivars banned from sale:

‘Anderson’ (Lustre Green™); ‘Angel Wings’; ‘Antares’; ‘Bailgreen’ (Jade Carousel®);‘Bailone’ (Ruby Carousel®); ‘Bailsel’ (Golden Carousel® - B. koreana × B. thunbergii hybrid); ‘Bailtwo’ (Burgundy Carousel®); B. thunbergii var. atropurpurea; ‘Crimson Velvet’; ‘Erecta’; ‘Gold Ring’; ‘Inermis’; ‘JN Redleaf’ (Ruby Jewel™); ‘JN Variegated’ (Stardust™); ‘Kelleris’; ‘Kobold’; ‘Marshall Upright’; ‘Monomb’ (Cherry Bomb™); ‘Painter’s Palette’; ‘Pow Wow’; ‘Red Rocket’; ‘Rose Glow’; ‘Silver Mile’; ‘Sparkle’; ‘Tara’ (Emerald Carousel® - B. koreana × B. thunbergii hybrid); Wild Type (parent species – green barberry)

Specially Regulated Plants

The "specially regulated plants" category includes noxious weeds that may be native species or nonnative species that have demonstrated economic value, but also have the potential to cause harm in noncontrolled environments. Plants designated as specially regulated have been determined to pose ecological, economical, or human or animal health concerns. Species-specific management plans or rules that define the use and management requirements for these plants must be developed by the commissioner of agriculture for each plant designated as specially regulated. The commissioner must also take measures to minimize the potential for harm caused by these plants.

  Common Name Scientific Name Year added to list Special regulation
1. Amur corktree Phellodendron amurense Rupr. 2023 Only sales of named male cultivars permitted. Sales of all other Phellodendron amurense are prohibited. All existing planted and escaped fruit producing trees must be controlled, by tree removal or other means, such that no seed is disseminated. 
2. Amur maple Acer ginnala Maxim. 2016 Sellers shall affix a label directly to the plant or container packaging that is being sold that advises buyers to "Only plant Amur maple and its cultivars in landscapes where the seedlings will be controlled by mowing or other means. Amur maple seed is wind dispersed and trees should be planted at least 100 yards from natural areas."
3. Callery pear Pyrus calleryana Decne. 2023 Three-year production phase-out period, after which sale of this species will be prohibited and the species will be designated as Restricted in 2026.
4. Norway maple (and all cultivars) Acer platanoides L. 2020 Sellers shall affix a label directly to the plant or container packaging that is being sold that advises buyers to "Only plant Norway maple and its cultivars in landscapes where the seedlings will be controlled by mowing or other means. Norway maple seed is wind dispersed and trees should be planted at least 100 yards from natural areas."
5. Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze & T. rydbergii (Small) Green 2010 Must be eradicated or controlled for public safety along rights-of-ways, trails, public accesses, business properties open to the public or on parts of lands where public access for business or commerce is granted. Must also be eradicated or controlled along property borders when requested by adjoining landowners.
6. Tatarian maple Acer tataricum L. 2023 Sellers shall affix a label directly to the plant or container packaging that is being sold that advises buyers to "Only plant Tatarian maple and its cultivars in landscapes where the seedlings will be controlled by mowing or other means. Tatarian maple seed is wind dispersed and trees should be planted at least 100 yards from natural areas."

County Noxious Weeds

County noxious weeds are plants that are designated by individual county boards to be prohibited within the county’s jurisdiction and must be approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the Noxious Weed Advisory Committee. Each county board must submit newly proposed County Noxious Weeds to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for review. Approved County Noxious Weeds shall also be posted with the county’s general weed notice prior to May 15th each year. Counties are solely responsible for developing County Noxious Weed lists and their enforcement. Contact your County Agricultural Inspector or County Designated Employee for more information or see a current listing of County Noxious Weeds.

Federal Noxious Weeds

Federal terrestrial and parasitic listed noxious weeds are prohibited in Minnesota.  Federal noxious weeds are selected and enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and can be reported to the local Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Office (APHIS) in Minneapolis, MN or to the MDA Noxious and Invasive Weed Program.  A list of federal noxious weeds and information about the federal weed program can be viewed at the USDA APHIS web site.