Invasive plants regulated in Ohio (86 species, cited)

Invasive plants regulated in Ohio

Ohio regulates 86 invasive plants under Ohio Admin. Code 901:5-37-01 (noxious weeds) + 901:5-30-01 (invasive plants). The table below reproduces that list in full, showing each plant's status in the state's own words. Ohio's list is a trade restriction, which governs what may be sold, propagated, or moved within the state.

Compiled from the rule itself, retrieved July 20, 2026. Law changes; if you spot a listing we have wrong or stale, tell us at [email protected].

7 of these plants are native to part of the United States, marked US native below. Nativity is regional. Black locust is native to the Appalachians and regulated in New England; Palmer amaranth is native to the Southwest and listed as an agricultural weed in the Corn Belt. A listing tells you what Ohio regulates, not where a plant belongs. The county checker answers the second question.

Regulated and invasive are two different findings, and this page shows them separately. 65 of the 86 plants below carry both: Ohio names them in statute and GRIIS lists them as invasive in the United States. The other 21 are regulated by Ohio without appearing on that register. The reverse is far more common still: most plants GRIIS calls invasive are named in no state’s statute at all and are sold freely, so an absent chip is never a clean bill of health.

Plant	Scientific name	Status	Ohio’s determination
Amur Honeysuckle	Lonicera maackii	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Amur Honeysuckle as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Hercules's Club, Bog Birch, Rough-Leaf Dogwood
Anchored Water Hyacinth	Eichhornia azurea	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Anchored Water Hyacinth as an invasive plant.
Apple of Peru	Nicandra physalodes	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Apple of Peru as a prohibited noxious weed.
Arrowhead	Sagittaria sagittifolia	Prohibited	Ohio lists Arrowhead as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, Hairy Lespedeza, American Black Elderberry
Arrowleaf Falsepickerelweed	Monochoria hastata	Prohibited	Ohio lists Arrowleaf Falsepickerelweed as an invasive plant.
Asian Marshweed	Limnophila sessiliflora	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Asian Marshweed as an invasive plant.
Asiatic Tearthumb	Polygonum perfoliatum	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Asiatic Tearthumb as a prohibited noxious weed.
Autumn Olive	Elaeagnus umbellata	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Autumn Olive as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Chokecherry, Red-Barked Dogwood, Redosier Dogwood
Blueberry Creeper	Ampelopsis brevipedunculata	Prohibited	Ohio lists Blueberry Creeper as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Rough-Leaf Dogwood, Common Witch Hazel, Silky Dogwood
Brazilian Waterweed	Egeria densa	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Brazilian Waterweed as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Star Sedge, Inland Sedge, Yellow Fumewort
Brittle Waternymph	Najas minor	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Brittle Waternymph as an invasive plant.
Burningbush	Bassia scoparia	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Burningbush as a prohibited noxious weed.
Butterweed US native	Packera glabella	Prohibited	Ohio lists Butterweed as a prohibited noxious weed.
Callery Pear	Pyrus calleryana	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Callery Pear as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Western Catalpa, Paper Birch, Cockspur Hawthorn
Canada Thistle	Cirsium arvense	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Canada Thistle as a prohibited noxious weed.
Canadian Horseweed US native	Conyza canadensis	Prohibited	Ohio lists Canadian Horseweed as a prohibited noxious weed.
Carelessweed US native	Amaranthus palmeri	Prohibited	Ohio lists Carelessweed as a prohibited noxious weed.
Codlins and Cream	Epilobium hirsutum	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Codlins and Cream as an invasive plant.
Columbus Grass	Sorghum almum	Prohibited	Ohio lists Columbus Grass as a prohibited noxious weed.
Common Barberry	Berberis vulgaris	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Common Barberry as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Hairy Lespedeza, American Black Elderberry, Sawtooth Blackberry
Common Buckthorn	Rhamnus cathartica	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Common Buckthorn as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Hercules's Club, Bog Birch, Rough-Leaf Dogwood
Common Frogbit	Hydrocharis morsus-ranae	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Common Frogbit as an invasive plant.
Common Reed	Phragmites australis	Prohibited	Ohio lists Common Reed as an invasive plant.
Crack Willow	Salix fragilis	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Crack Willow as an invasive plant.
Curly Pondweed	Potamogeton crispus	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Curly Pondweed as an invasive plant.
Cutleaf Teasel	Dipsacus laciniatus	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Cutleaf Teasel as an invasive plant.
Cypress Spurge	Euphorbia cyparissias	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Cypress Spurge as a prohibited noxious weed.Plant instead: Blunt Spikerush, Common Spikerush, Slender Cottongrass
Dames Rocket	Hesperis matronalis	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Dames Rocket as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Maryland Senna, Roundleaf Goldenrod, New York Ironweed
Ducklettuce	Ottelia alismoides	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Ducklettuce as an invasive plant.
Empress Tree	Paulownia tomentosa	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Empress Tree as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Western Catalpa, Paper Birch, Cockspur Hawthorn
Eurasian Watermilfoil	Myriophyllum spicatum	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Eurasian Watermilfoil as an invasive plant.
European Wand Loosestrife	Lythrum virgatum	Prohibited	Ohio lists European Wand Loosestrife as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, Hairy Lespedeza, American Black Elderberry
European Waterclover	Marsilea quadrifolia	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists European Waterclover as an invasive plant.
Feathered Mosquitofern	Azolla pinnata	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Feathered Mosquitofern as an invasive plant.
Field Bindweed	Convolvulus arvensis	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Field Bindweed as a prohibited noxious weed.
Field Sowthistle	Sonchus arvensis	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Field Sowthistle as a prohibited noxious weed.
Fig Buttercup	Ranunculus ficaria	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Fig Buttercup as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Common Selfheal, Meadow Evening Primrose, Northern St. Johnswort
Flowering Rush	Butomus umbellatus	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Flowering Rush as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, Hairy Lespedeza, American Black Elderberry
Forage Kochia	Bassia prostrata	Prohibited	Ohio lists Forage Kochia as a prohibited noxious weed.
Fuller's Teasel	Dipsacus fullonum	Prohibited	Ohio lists Fuller's Teasel as an invasive plant.
Garlic Mustard	Alliaria petiolata	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Garlic Mustard as an invasive plant.
Giant Hogweed	Heracleum mantegazzianum	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Giant Hogweed as a prohibited noxious weed.
Hairy Whitetop	Cardaria pubescens	Prohibited	Ohio lists Hairy Whitetop as a prohibited noxious weed.
Heartshape False Pickerelweed	Monochoria vaginalis	Prohibited	Ohio lists Heartshape False Pickerelweed as an invasive plant.
Hedge False Bindweed	Calystegia sepium	Prohibited	Ohio lists Hedge False Bindweed as a prohibited noxious weed.
Hybrid Cattail US native	Typha x glauca	Prohibited	Ohio lists Hybrid Cattail as an invasive plant.
Indian Swampweed	Hygrophila polysperma	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Indian Swampweed as an invasive plant.
Japanese Honeysuckle	Lonicera japonica	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Japanese Honeysuckle as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, Maryland Senna, Roundleaf Goldenrod
Japanese Knotweed	Fallopia japonica (potentially invasive weed)	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Japanese Knotweed as a prohibited noxious weed.
Johnsongrass	Sorghum halepense	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Johnsongrass as a prohibited noxious weed.
Kariba-Weed	Salvinia molesta	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Kariba-Weed as an invasive plant.
Kudzu	Pueraria montana	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Kudzu as a prohibited noxious weed.Plant instead: Hercules's Club, Bog Birch, American Plum
Lenspod Whitetop	Cardaria chalepensis	Prohibited	Ohio lists Lenspod Whitetop as a prohibited noxious weed.
Louise's Swallow-Wort	Cynanchum louiseae	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Louise's Swallow-Wort as an invasive plant.
Morrow's Honeysuckle	Lonicera morrowii	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Morrow's Honeysuckle as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, New York Ironweed, Harvestlice
Multiflora Rose	Rosa multiflora	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Multiflora Rose as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, Hairy Lespedeza, American Black Elderberry
Narrowleaf Cattail	Typha angustifolia	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Narrowleaf Cattail as an invasive plant.
Nepalese Browntop	Microstegium vimineum	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Nepalese Browntop as an invasive plant.
Nodding Plumeless Thistle	Carduus nutans	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Nodding Plumeless Thistle as a prohibited noxious weed.
Oriental Bittersweet	Celastrus orbiculatus	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Oriental Bittersweet as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Rough-Leaf Dogwood, Common Witch Hazel, Trumpet Honeysuckle
Oxygen-Weed	Lagarosiphon major	Prohibited	Ohio lists Oxygen-Weed as an invasive plant.
Paleyellow Iris	Iris pseudacorus	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Paleyellow Iris as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, Hairy Lespedeza, American Black Elderberry
Parrot Feather Watermilfoil	Myriophyllum aquaticum	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Parrot Feather Watermilfoil as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Little Green Sedge, Lopsided Rush, Nodding Lady's Tresses
Parsnip	Pastinaca sativa	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Parsnip as a prohibited noxious weed.
Poison Hemlock	Conium maculatum	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Poison Hemlock as a prohibited noxious weed.
Prickly Russian Thistle	Salsola tragus	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Prickly Russian Thistle as a prohibited noxious weed.
Purple Loosestrife	Lythrum salicaria	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Purple Loosestrife as a prohibited noxious weed.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, Hairy Lespedeza, American Black Elderberry
Reed Canarygrass US native	Phalaris arundinacea	Prohibited	Ohio lists Reed Canarygrass as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Coast Cockspur Grass, Common Rush, Western Brackenfern
Roughfruit Amaranth US native	Amaranthus tuberculatus	Prohibited	Ohio lists Roughfruit Amaranth as a prohibited noxious weed.
Russian Olive	Elaeagnus angustifolia	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Russian Olive as an invasive plant.Plant instead: American Plum, Climbing Rose, Prairie Crab Apple
Serrated Tussock	Nassella trichotoma	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Serrated Tussock as a prohibited noxious weed.
Siberian Elm	Ulmus pumila	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Siberian Elm as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Shingle Oak, Sweet Birch, Western Catalpa
Simplestem Bur-Reed	Sparganium erectum	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Simplestem Bur-Reed as an invasive plant.
Sorghum	Sorghum bicolor	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Sorghum as a prohibited noxious weed.
Spotted Knapweed	Centaurea stoebe	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Spotted Knapweed as a prohibited noxious weed.
Tatarian Honeysuckle	Lonicera tatarica	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Tatarian Honeysuckle as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, Hairy Lespedeza, American Black Elderberry
Tree of Heaven	Ailanthus altissima	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Tree of Heaven as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Shingle Oak, Sweet Birch, Western Catalpa
Water Chestnut	Trapa natans	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Water Chestnut as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Little Green Sedge, Lopsided Rush, Nodding Lady's Tresses
Water Lettuce US native	Pistia stratiotes	Prohibited	Ohio lists Water Lettuce as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Little Green Sedge, Lopsided Rush, Nodding Lady's Tresses
Water Soldiers	Stratiotes aloides	Prohibited	Ohio lists Water Soldiers as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Little Green Sedge, Lopsided Rush, Nodding Lady's Tresses
Water Spangles	Salvinia minima	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Water Spangles as an invasive plant.
Waterthyme	Hydrilla verticillata	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Waterthyme as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Star Sedge, Inland Sedge, Yellow Fumewort
White Mulberry	Morus alba	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists White Mulberry as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Western Catalpa, Osage-Orange, Cockspur Hawthorn
Wild Privet	Ligustrum vulgare	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Wild Privet as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Crimsoneyed Rosemallow, New York Ironweed, Harvestlice
Yellow Floatingheart	Nymphoides peltata	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Yellow Floatingheart as an invasive plant.Plant instead: Nodding Lady's Tresses, Valley Redstem, American Vetch
Yellow Groove Bamboo	Phyllostachys aureosulcata	Prohibited Invasive	Ohio lists Yellow Groove Bamboo as a prohibited noxious weed.Plant instead: Missouri River Willow, Eastern Redcedar, American Arborvitae

What the tags mean

Prohibited Restricted Listed

A legal status. Ohio names the plant in statute. Under a nursery rule that means it may not be sold, propagated, or moved; under an agricultural weed law it means landowners must control it. The cited rule says which, in Ohio’s own words, in the last column.

Invasive

An ecological finding, and a different question from the law. GRIIS — the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species — lists the plant as invasive in the United States. Most invasive plants carry no state listing at all and are sold freely, so a plant without this tag is not thereby safe, and a plant without a legal chip is not thereby harmless.

Where this comes from

Ohio listings: Ohio Admin. Code 901:5-37-01 (noxious weeds) + 901:5-30-01 (invasive plants). Read the rule.
Invasive status: GRIIS, the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species, via GBIF. A scientific register with no legal force; it is cited separately from the statute above because the two disagree far more often than they agree.
Status wording: Each determination is written as a sentence, with Ohio’s own term for the plant reproduced verbatim inside it. The Prohibited / Restricted / Listed chips are Ezina’s normalisation across 42 states and are not the legal term.
Nativity: USDA PLANTS county distribution layer, surfaced through the county checker.

Regulated next door, but not in Ohio

Plants that two or more states bordering Ohio regulate, and Ohio does not. A listing is a legal act rather than an ecological one, so a plant can be a documented problem here and still be sold here.

Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii regulated in Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Glossy Buckthorn Frangula alnus regulated in Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania
Bohemian Knotweed Polygonum x bohemicum regulated in Indiana, Pennsylvania
Border Privet Ligustrum obtusifolium regulated in Indiana, Pennsylvania
Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare regulated in Indiana, Pennsylvania
Common Wormwood Artemisia vulgaris regulated in Indiana, Pennsylvania
European Swallow-Wort Cynanchum rossicum regulated in Indiana, Pennsylvania
Giant Knotweed Polygonum sachalinense regulated in Indiana, Pennsylvania
Japanese Hop Humulus japonicus regulated in Indiana, Pennsylvania
Showy Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera x bella regulated in Indiana, Pennsylvania
Spiny Plumeless Thistle Carduus acanthoides regulated in Indiana, West Virginia

Questions

What plants are illegal to sell in Ohio?

86 plants are regulated under Ohio Admin. Code 901:5-37-01 (noxious weeds) + 901:5-30-01 (invasive plants). Plants marked Prohibited may not be sold, propagated, or moved within Ohio. Plants marked Restricted carry narrower limits set by the rule.

Is my plant invasive in Ohio?

Search the table on this page, or enter the plant's name in Ezina's checker to get its Ohio status alongside whether USDA records it as native to your specific county. Every answer links the record it came from.

Does a plant missing from this list mean it is safe to plant in Ohio?

No. This page reproduces what Ohio regulates, and a state list is a legal instrument rather than an ecological verdict. Plenty of plants spread aggressively without ever being listed, and states add species years after the problem is documented.

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