This web page is for the purpose of informing interested parties of MoIP’s idea. MoIP intends for this to be a collaborative process that will take time. We welcome stakeholder feedback.
First, MoIP defines invasive plants as “aggressive, non-native species whose presence causes or is likely to cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to human health. These species grow and reproduce rapidly. (Modified from Invasive.org.)
MoIP acknowledges that not all non-native plants are invasive. In fact, few are, and of the plants that are invasive, relatively few are readily available. However, plants that are invasive and are still being actively sold and distributed are concerning and limit the effectiveness of invasive-control efforts across Missouri.
Cease-the-Sale Idea
In an effort to minimize additional spread of invasive plants and to help lessen the long-term impact of existing problem species, the Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force (MoIP) proposes the idea of a Missouri statute that would cease the sale, propagation, and intentional distribution of some invasive plants. The proposed statute would not penalize property owners for the presence of a known invasive plant.
This would be a different statute than the existing Missouri Noxious Weed Law.
While any individual or group may propose legislation to legislators with no input from others, MoIP invites organizations with a stake in this proposal to provide thorough feedback on specific plants. We aim to maintain transparency throughout the process and desire to work with stakeholders from many sectors, including agriculture, conservation, horticulture, academia, and utilities to find common ground on what’s best for the future of the state.
The following items document information we wish to share with approximately 90 stakeholder groups from agriculture, horticulture, conservation, and other groups.
Rationale for an Idea to Cease the Sale of Some Invasive Plants in Missouri
- requires property owners to control noxious weeds on their property and
- prohibits noxious weeds from being sold
- Grow Native!: Alternative Species
- Midwest Invasive Plant Network: Native Landscape Alternatives
- Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes Collaborative: Landscape Alternatives
- The activity is for the purpose of:
- Disposing of the invasive plant
- Controlling the invasive plant
- Using the invasive plant for research or educational purposes
- Commercial and individual floriculture remains - properly discard so viable parts of plant don’t take root or go to seed.
- Name of the Requestor
- Contact Information
- Scientific name of the plant
- Detailed justification of the request”
- Impact: How severe is the current impact of the species on natural communities in each of Missouri’s primary ecological regions?
- Current Abundance: Estimate the species current abundance in each of Missouri’s primary ecological regions.
- Trend in Distribution and Abundance: Based on observations and regional trends over the past 10 to 20 years, estimate how rapidly the species range will expand to form new occurrences throughout each of Missouri’s primary ecological regions over the next 10 years?
- Rankings are displayed through regional maps accessible as a searchable table or downloadable via Dropbox.
- Some species display blank maps because of insufficient review data to populate the map. The ‘insufficient data’ tag in the maps means that there were fewer than 3 reviews for that species/region. There is also a ‘no data’ tag for those without any reviews. Even though some maps show insufficient data for certain plants, they are included in the assessment list of 142 plants because they are known as invasive and/or are regulated in neighboring states.
- Download all raw data for the Missouri Invasive Plant Assessment here (locked)
Science Phase
- 2016: Research for the Missouri Invasive Plant Assessment begins compiling extensive research on known and potentially invasive plants, a process that took approximately 75 hours to complete.
- 2017: Starting with our network of local, state and federal agencies and private industries, MoIP sought input from experienced field biologists in Missouri. MoIP received 26 completed reviews.
- 2018: Data/metrics documented and converted into regional maps.
- February 2019: Impact analysis/mapping shared online and in presentations, such as to the Missouri Natural Resources Conference
Stakeholder Engagement Phase
- Winter 2019/2020: MoIP begins gathering reviewer groups/principal contact identification. MoIP begins developing documentation and input tool for review.
- Establish composition of a review committee for review of stakeholder input
- Spring 2020: MoIP begins develop a matrix for summarizing stakeholder input.
- April 7, 2020: (cancelled due to COVID-19) MoIP invites stakeholders to statewide meeting on invasive plant topics
- September 2020: introduce idea for statute to general public via a Grow Native! webinar (see recording)
- As of early December 2020, MoIP is reviewing initial feedback to determine its next steps regarding stakeholder input/comment/advisement
- late 2020/early 2021: Request for stakeholder input/comment/advisement
Legislative Advocacy/Engagement Phase
- Stakeholder input will determine whether MoIP will advance to this stage or not.
Common Name | Scientific Name | Currently available from traditional retail and wholesale outlets.* |
air potato | Dioscorea polystachya | |
amur corktree | Phellodendron amurense | |
Amur honeysuckle | Lonicera maackii | |
Amur maple | Acer tataricum | Yes |
Amur privet | Ligustrum amurense | Yes |
autumn olive | Elaeagnus umbellata | Yes |
beefsteak plant, Perilla mint | Perilla frutescens | Yes |
bicolor lespedeza | Lespedeza bicolor | |
birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | Yes |
black swallow-wort | Cynanchum louiseae | |
blackberry lily | Belamcanda chinensis | Yes |
border privet | Ligustrum obtusifolium | Yes |
Brazilian waterweed | Egeria densa | |
brittle naiad | Najas minor | |
bromegrass | Bromus sterilis | Yes |
bull thistle | Cirsium vulgare | |
burdock | Arctium minus | |
California privet | Ligustrum ovalifolium | Yes |
Canada thistle^ | Cirsium arvense^ | |
Caucasian bluestem | Bothriochloa bladhii | |
cheat grass | Bromus tectorum | |
Chinese chestnut | Castanea mollissima | Yes |
Chinese privet | Ligustrum sinense | Yes |
Chinese wisteria | Wisteria sinensis | Yes |
chocolate vine | Akebia quinata | Yes |
climbing euonymus | Euonymus fortunei | Yes |
common buckthorn | Rhamnus cathartica | |
common periwinkle | Vinca minor | Yes |
common reed | Phragmites australis | |
common tansy | Tanacetum vulgare | |
common teasel^ | Dipsacus fullonum^ | |
crown vetch | Securigera varia | Yes |
curly leaf pondweed | Potamogeton crispus | |
cut-leaf teasel^ | Dipsacus laciniatus^ | |
Dahurian buckthorn | Rhamnus davurica | |
dame's rocket | Hesperis matronalis | Yes |
dwarf honeysuckle | Lonicera xylosteum | Yes |
English ivy | Hedera helix | Yes |
Eurasian watermilfoil | Myriophyllum spicatum | |
European cranberry bush | Viburnum opulus | Yes |
European privet | Ligustrum vulgare | Yes |
European wand loosestrife | Lythrum virgatum | Yes |
field bindweed^ | Convolvulus arvensis^ | |
field sowthistle | Sonchus arvensis | |
fountain grass^ | Cenchrus purpurascens^ | Yes |
garlic mustard | Alliaria petiolata | |
giant hogweed | Heracleum mantegazzianum | |
giant Miscanthus | Miscanthus | Yes |
giant reed | Arundo donax | Yes |
glossy buckthorn, European alder buckthorn | Frangula alnus | Yes |
glossy privet | Ligustrum lucidum | Yes |
golden bamboo | Phyllostachys aurea | Yes |
golden rain tree | Koelreuteria paniculata | Yes |
ground ivy, creeping charlie | Glechoma hederacea | Yes |
hardheads | Acroptilon repens | |
heavenly bamboo | Nandina domestica | Yes |
Himalayan blackberry | Rubus armeniacus | |
hydrilla | Hydrilla verticillata | |
Japanese angelica tree | Aralia elata | Yes |
Japanese barberry | Berberis thunbergii | Yes |
Japanese chaff flower | Achyranthes japonica | |
Japanese clover | Kummerowia striata | Yes |
Japanese honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica | Yes |
Japanese hops | Humulus japonicus | |
Japanese knotweed | Fallopia japonica | |
Japanese plume grass | Miscanthus sinensis | Yes |
Japanese privet | Ligustrum japonicum | Yes |
Japanese stiltgrass | Microstegium vimineum | |
Japanese wisteria | Wisteria floribunda | Yes |
Japanese zelkova, Japanese elm | Zelkova serrata | Yes |
jetbead | Rhodotypos scandens | Yes |
Johnson grass^ | Sorghum halepense^ | |
Korean clover | Kummerowia stipulacea | Yes |
kudzu^ | Pueraria montana^ | |
Lacebark elm, Chinese elm | Ulmus parvifolia | Yes |
leafy spurge | Euphorbia esula | |
lesser celandine | Ranunculus ficaria | |
mahaleb cherry | Prunus mahaleb | |
mile-a-minute weed | Persicaria perfoliata | |
moneywort, creeping jenny, herb twopence and twopenny grass | Lysimachia nummularia | Yes |
Morrow's honeysuckle | Lonicera morrowii | |
multiflora rose^ | Rosa multiflora^ | |
musk thistle^ | Carduus nutans^ | |
narrowleaf bittercress | Cardamine impatiens | |
Norway maple | Acer platanoides | Yes |
orange daylily, tawny daylily | Hemerocallis fulva | Yes |
Oriental bittersweet | Celastrus orbiculatus | Yes |
ornamental pear, callery pear | Pyrus calleryana | Yes |
paper mulberry | Broussonetia papyrifera | |
parrotfeather | Myriophyllum aquaticum | |
pepperweed | Lepidium latifolium | |
pincushion flower | Scabiosa atropurpurea | Yes |
poison hemlock | Conium maculatum | |
porcelain berry | Ampelopsis brevipedunculata | Yes |
princess tree | Paulownia tomentosa | Yes |
purple loosestrife^ | Lythrum salicaria^ | Yes |
ravennagrass | Saccharum ravennae | Yes |
reed canary grass | Phalaris arundinacea | Yes |
Russian olive | Elaeagnus angustifolia | Yes |
saltcedar | Tamarix chinensis | Yes |
saw tooth oak | Quercus acutissima | Yes |
Scotch thistle^ | Onopordum acanthium^ | |
sericea lespedeza | Lespedeza cuneata | Yes |
Siberian elm | Ulmus pumila | Yes |
silktree | Albizia julibrissin | Yes |
silver poplar | Populus alba | Yes |
smooth brome | Bromus inermis | Yes |
spotted knapweed^ | Centaurea stoebe^ | |
star of Bethlehem | Ornithogalum umbellatum | Yes |
sweet autumn virginsbower | Clematis terniflora | Yes |
sweet breath of spring | Lonicera fragrantissima | Yes |
tall fescue | Festuca arundinacea | Yes |
Tartarian bush honeysuckle | Lonicera tatarica | |
tree-of-heaven | Ailanthus altissima | Yes |
viper's bugloss | Echium vulgare | Yes |
water hyacinth | Eichhornia crassipes | Yes |
waxyleaf privet | Ligustrum quihoui | Yes |
weeping lovegrass | Eragrostis curvula | Yes |
white mulberry | Morus alba | Yes |
white sweet clover | Melilotus albus | Yes |
wild parsnip | Pastinaca sativa | |
wine raspberry | Rubus phoenicolasius | |
winged burning bush | Euonymus alatus | Yes |
winter vetch | Vicia villosa | Yes |
yellow bluestem | Bothriochloa ischaemum | |
yellow flag iris | Iris pseudacorus | Yes |
yellow star thistle | Centaurea solstitialis | |
yellow sweet clover | Melilotus officinalis | Yes |
- See photos of escaped cultivation here.
- See this detailed spreadsheet of Missouri Invasive Plant Assessment for all the raw data that went into the development of the ranked assessment. Columns N through AJ show all other national, state, and regional noxious weed listings for each species.”
Frequently Asked Questions
4-H |
AgriMissouri |
American Society of Landscape Architects |
Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives |
Boy Scouts |
Bridging the Gap |
Cattlemen's Association |
Conservation Federation of Missouri |
Farm Service Agency |
Federated Garden Clubs |
Forest & Woodland Association of Missouri |
Future Farmers of America |
Garden Centers of America |
Gateway Professional Horticultural Association |
Girl Scouts - contacted through online form |
Great Missouri Birding Trail |
Great Rivers Greenway District |
Greenhouse Growers Association |
L-A-D Foundation |
Landscape and Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis |
Leave No Trace - contacted through online form |
Lincoln Coop Extension |
Magnificent Missouri |
MFA Incorporated |
Missouri Agribusiness Association |
Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Assurance Program |
Missouri Aquarium Society |
Missouri Aquarium Society |
Missouri Association of Counties - contacted through online form |
Missouri Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts |
Missouri Beef Industry Council |
Missouri Botanical Garden |
Missouri Coalition for the Environment |
Missouri Community Forestry Council |
Missouri Consulting Foresters Association |
Missouri Corn Growers Association |
Missouri Cottongrower's Association |
Missouri Crop Improvement Assocation |
Missouri Dairy Association |
Missouri Department of Conservation |
Missouri Dept. of Agriculture |
Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources |
Missouri Energy Initiative |
Missouri Farm Bureau Federation |
Missouri Farmers Care |
Missouri Farmers Union |
Missouri Forage and Grasslands Council |
Missouri Forest Products Association |
Missouri Green Industry Alliance |
Missouri Hemp Association |
Missouri Homebuilders Association |
Missouri Horse Council |
Missouri Master Gardeners |
Missouri Master Naturalists |
Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association |
Missouri Municipal League |
Missouri Native Seed Association |
Missouri Nut Growers Association |
Missouri Organic Association |
Missouri Park & Recreation Association |
Missouri Parks Association |
Missouri Pork Association |
Missouri Prairie Foundation/GN |
Missouri Realtors Association |
Missouri Rice Council - contacted through online form |
Missouri Right of Way Association |
Missouri River Relief |
Missouri Seedsmen’s Association |
Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association |
Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council |
Missouri State Arboretum |
Missouri State Beekeepers Association |
University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry |
Missouri Wine & Grape Board |
Missouri Women in Agriculture |
MO Environmental Education Association |
MoDOT |
MU Extension |
National Forest Service |
National Guard |
National Park Service |
National Wild Turkey Federation |
NRCS |
Poultry Federation |
Powell Gardens |
Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation |
Quail/Pheasants Forever |
Science Teachers of Missouri |
Show-Me Farm Safety |
Sierra Club |
St. Louis Arborists |
Stream Teams United |
The Nature Conservancy |
TPI (turfgrowers group) |
Trout Unlimited |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
USDA Farm Service Agency |
Have questions? Please email [email protected]