Notice of additions to the Prohibited Invasive Plant List
On June 1, 2024, significant changes were made to the invasive plant law. In accordance with the new law, plants were assessed using a new invasive plant species status assessment protocol. Assessments resulted in the addition of the following species and associated cultivars to the Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List:
- Akebia quinata (Chocolate vine)
- Berberis bealei/Mahonia bealei (Leatherleaf mahonia)
- Cenchrus alopecuroides/Cenchrus purpurascens/Pennisetum alopecuroides (Chinese fountain grass)
- Hedera helix (English ivy)
- Hedera hibernica (Atlantic ivy)
- Hemerocallis fulva (Orange daylily)
- Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese silvergrass)
Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List
Plants on the Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List may not be acquired or sold in-state after the regulations effective date. Existing stocks of prohibited plants have a phase-out period of 1 year for potted plants and 2 years for in-ground plants. Prohibited plants must not be in stock after the phase-out period ends. The updated Maryland Plant List including regulations effective date and phase-out periods is included below:
| Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List |
| Species Name | Common Name | Effective Date | Phase-out Period (potted) | Phase-out Period (in-ground) |
Akebia quinata
| Chocolate vine
| 7/15/2026
| 7/15/2027
| 7/15/2028
|
| Aralia elata | Japanese angelica tree |
1/15/2026 |
1/15/2027 |
1/15/2028 |
| Berberis bealei
Mahonia bealei | Leatherleaf mahonia
|
7/15/2026
|
7/15/2027
|
7/15/2028
|
| Berberis thunbergii | Japanese barberry | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Cenchrus alopecuroides
| Chinese fountain grass
|
7/15/2026
|
7/15/2027
|
7/15/2028
|
| Corydalis incisa | Incised fumewort | 6/1/2024 | 6/1/2024 | 6/1/2024 |
| Cytisus scoparius | Scotch broom | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Euonymus alatus | Burning bush, Winged euonymus | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Euonymus fortunei | Wintercreeper | 6/1/2024 | 6/1/2024 | 6/1/2024 |
| Ficaria verna | Fig buttercup, Lesser celandine |
6/1/2024 |
6/1/2024 |
6/1/2024 |
| Geranium lucidum | Shining geranium | 6/1/2024 | 6/1/2024 | 6/1/2024 |
Hedera helix
| English ivy
| 7/15/2026
| 7/15/2027
| 7/15/2028
|
Hedera hibernica
| Atlantic ivy
|
7/15/2026
|
7/15/2027
|
7/15/2028
|
Hemerocallis fulva
| Orange daylily
|
7/15/2026
|
7/15/2027
|
7/15/2028
|
| Iris pseudacorus | Yellow flag, Yellow iris, Water flag |
6/1/2024 |
6/1/2024 |
6/1/2024 |
| Ligustrum obtusifolium | Border privet | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Lonicera maackii | Amur honeysuckle | 6/1/2024 | 6/1/2024 | 6/1/2024 |
Miscanthus sinensis
| Chinese silvergrass
|
7/15/2026
|
7/15/2027
|
7/15/2028
|
| Nandina domestica | Nandina, Sacred bamboo |
1/15/2026 |
1/15/2027 |
1/15/2028 |
| Phyllostachys aurea | Golden bamboo | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Phyllostachys aureosulcata | Yellow groove bamboo | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Pyrus calleryana | Callery pear | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Tetradium daniellii | Bee bee tree | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Wisteria floribunda | Japanese wisteria | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Wisteria sinensis | Chinese wisteria | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
| Wisteria x formosa | floribunda x sinensis hybrid | 1/15/2026 | 1/15/2027 | 1/15/2028 |
List updated July 2026. Invasive Plant Status Assessment reports for individual species are available upon request (contact: [email protected])
Phase-out Period Exemption Request
Prohibited plants must not be in stock after the phase-out period ends. Licensed nurseries, brokers, or plant dealers may submit an exemption request to the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture for a 1-year extension to the phase-out period of their stock. Please cc the Invasive Plants Advisory Committee in your request (contact: [email protected]).
Cultivar Exemptions
The following cultivars have been exempted from the Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List.
| Species Name | Cultivar Name |
| Berberis thunbergii | 'UCONNBTB048' Lemon Glow |
| Nandina domestica | 'AKA' (Blush Pink) |
| Nandina domestica | 'Firepower' |
| Nandina domestica | 'Lemon-Lime' |
List updated March 2, 2026.
Cultivars of plants on the Prohibited Invasive Plants list that are sterile, unable to hybridize, are easily distinguishable from the prohibited plant, and have decreased impacts to the environment may be requested to be exempted from the Prohibited Invasive Plant List. For more information, and to submit a cultivar exemption request, please use the Cultivar Exemption Form.
Next Plants to be Assessed
The following species were chosen from the Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas Field Guide as the next species to be assessed in 2026-2027.
The top ten plants are prioritized for assessment.
Plants to be assessed in the future:
|
| Species Name | Common Name |
Albizia julibrissin
| Mimosa or Silktree
|
Buddleja davidii
| Orange-eye butterfly bush
|
Vinca minor
| Common periwinkle
|
Vinca major
| Largeleaf periwinkle
|
Paulownia tomentosa
| Empress tree, Princess tree
|
Acer platanoides
| Norway maple
|
Ligustrum ovalifolium
| Garden privet
|
Ligustrum sinense
| Chinese privet
|
Ligustrum vulgare
| European privet
|
| Elaeagnus umbellata | Autumn olive |
| |
| Glechoma hederacea | Ground ivy |
| Lonicera japonica | Japanese honeysuckle |
| Phyllostachys bissetii | Bisset bamboo |
| Pseudosasa japonica | Arrow bamboo
|
Rubus phoenicolasius
| Wineberry
|
Ailanthus altissima
| Tree of heaven
|
Quercus acutissima
| Sawtooth oak
|
Clematis terniflora
| Sweet autumn clematis
|
Hyacinthoides hispanica
| Spanish bluebell
|
