The Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List prohibits the importation, sale, and trade of plants determined to be invasive in Massachusetts. This ban also covers the purchase and distribution of these plants and related activities, and includes all cultivars, varieties and hybrids of the species listed. The Prohibited Plant List was last updated in January, 2025.
In 2005, the Massachusetts Invasive Plants Advisory Group (MIPAG) presented Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) with a list of plants designated as invasive in Massachusetts. This list was combined with the Federal Noxious Weed List to create the original Prohibited Plant List, which covered more than 140 species.
In 2005, the Massachusetts Invasive Plants Advisory Group (MIPAG) presented Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) with a list of plants designated as invasive in Massachusetts. This list was combined with the Federal Noxious Weed List to create the original Prohibited Plant List, which covered more than 140 species.
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Invasive plants typically have few (if any) natural enemies and a very high reproductive rate. These and other characteristics allow invasive plants to out compete native plants, which can lead to the disruption of ecosystems. |
No listed plant can be sold or propagated in Massachusetts. There are, however, alternatives to some of the plants that can be used in place of the banned plant material. For example, winterberry is considered a good substitute for barberry.
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Frequently requested:
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Possible substitutes for burning bush are highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), brilliant chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’), redvein enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus), and sweet spire (Itea).
Barberry Possible substitutes for barberry are ninebark, weigela, winterberry and leucothoe
Norway Maple Substitutes include Sugar Maple and Red Maple
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Possible substitutes for burning bush are highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), brilliant chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’), redvein enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus), and sweet spire (Itea).
Barberry Possible substitutes for barberry are ninebark, weigela, winterberry and leucothoe
Norway Maple Substitutes include Sugar Maple and Red Maple
Burning Bush
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Japanese Barberry
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Norway Maple
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