Minnesota Noxious Weed ID Presentation (PDF: 1.88 MB / 33 pages)

State Prohibited Noxious Weeds

Prohibited 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. There are two regulatory listings for prohibited noxious weeds in Minnesota:

1. Eradicate List: Prohibited noxious weeds that are listed to be eradicated are plants that are not currently known to be present in Minnesota or are not widely established. These species must be eradicated, meaning all of the above and below ground parts of the plant must be destroyed, as required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.78. Additionally, no transportation, propagation, or sale of these plants is allowed. Measures must also be taken to prevent and exclude these species from being introduced into Minnesota.

1. Yellow Star Thistle, Centaurea solstitialis L.
2. Grecian Foxglove, Digitalis lanata Ehrh.
3. Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.

2. Controlled List: Prohibited noxious weeds listed to be controlled are plants established throughout Minnesota or regions of the state. Species on this list must be controlled, meaning efforts must be made to destroy all propagating parts and prevent seed maturation and dispersal, thereby reducing established populations and preventing reproduction and spread as required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.78. Additionally, transportation, propagation, or sale of these plants is prohibited.

1. Leafy Spurge, Euphorbia esula (L.)
2. Canada Thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. EXT
3. Musk Thistle, Carduus nutans (L.) EXT
4. Plumeless Thistle, Carduus acanthoides (L.) EXT
5. Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) EXT
6. Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, virgatum (L.), EXT
7. Wild Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa L. EXT
8. Common Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare (L.) 
9. Spotted Knapweed, Centaurea stoebe spp. micranthos 

Restricted Noxious Weeds

Restricted noxious weeds are plants that are widely distributed in Minnesota and are detrimental to human or animal health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock or other property, but whose only feasible means of control is to prevent their spread by prohibiting the importation, sale, and transportation of their propagating parts in the state except as allowed by Minnesota Statutes, Section 18.82. Plants designated as Restricted Noxious Weeds may be reclassified if effective means of control are developed.

1. Common or European Buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica (L.) EXT
2. Glossy Buckthorn (and all cultivars), Frangula alnus Mill., EXT (columnaris, tallcole, asplenifolia and all other cultivars)

Specially Regulated Plants

Specially regulated plants are plants that may be native species or have demonstrated economic value, but also have the potential to cause harm in non-controlled environments. Plants designated as specially regulated have been determined to pose ecological, economical, or human or animal health concerns. Plant specific management plans and or rules that define the use and management requirements for these plants will be developed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for each plant designated as specially regulated. Measures must also be taken to minimize the potential for harm caused by these plants.

1. Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans (Ktze.) EXT 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 boarders when requested by adjoining landowners.

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 annually submit their proposed County Noxious Weed List 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.