Thought some would be interested in seeing what the committee here in Maine is thinking in regards to invasive plants and what can legally be sold in Maine nurseries.
33 plants were originally added in 2018 and a bunch more were just added this year that will take affect in 2024.
Here is the full Maine “do not sell list”:
Scientific name
Common name
Effective Date
Acer platanoides
Norway maple
1/1/2018
Alliaria petiolata
Garlic mustard
1/1/2018
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese barberry
1/1/2018
Celastrus orbiculatus
Asiatic bittersweet
1/1/2018
Elaeagnus umbellata
Autumn olive
1/1/2018
Euonymus alatus
Winged euonymus,burning bush
1/1/2018
Fallopia japonica
Japanese knotweed
1/1/2018
Frangula alnus
Glossy buckthorn
1/1/2018
Hesperius matronalis
Dame’s rocket
1/1/2018
Iris pseudacorus
Yellow iris
1/1/2018
Lonicera morrowii
Morrow’s honeysuckle
1/1/2018
Lonicera tatarica
Tartarian honeysuckle
1/1/2018
Lythrum salicaria
Purple loosestrife
1/1/2018
Robinia pseudoacacia
Black locust
1/1/2018
Rosa multiflora
Multiflora rose
1/1/2018
Acer ginnala
Amur maple
1/1/2018
Aegopodium podagraria
Bishop’s weed, goutweed
1/1/2018
Ailanthus altissima
Tree of heaven
1/1/2018
Amorpha fruticosa
False indigo bush
1/1/2018
Artemisia vulgaris
Common mugwort
1/1/2018
Berberis vulgaris
Common barberry
1/1/2018
Euphorbia cyparissias
Cypress spurge
1/1/2018
Ligustrum vulgare
Common privet
1/1/2018
Lonicera japonica
Japanese honeysuckle
1/1/2018
Lonicera maackii
Amur or bush honeysuckle
1/1/2018
Populus alba
White cottonwood
1/1/2018
Impatiens glandulifera
Ornamental jewelweed
1/1/2018
Ampelopsis glandulosa
Porcelain berry
1/1/2018
Fallopia baldschuanica
Chinese bindweed, silver lace vine
1/1/2018
Microstegium vimineum
Stilt grass
1/1/2018
Paulownia tomentosa
Paulownia, princess tree
1/1/2018
Persicaria perfoliata
Mile a minute weed
1/1/2018
Phellodendron amurense
Amur cork tree
1/1/2018
Alnus glutinosa
European alder
1/1/2024
Angelica sylvestris
Woodland angelica
1/1/2024
Anthriscus sylvestris
Wild chervil, raven’s wing
1/1/2024
Aralia elata
Japanese angelica tree
1/1/2024
Butomus umbellatus
Flowering rush
1/1/2024
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Russian olive
1/1/2024
Euonymus fortunei
Wintercreeper, climbing spindle tree
1/1/2024
Festuca filiformis
Fine-leaved sheep fescue
1/1/2024
Ficaria verna
Lesser celandine
1/1/2024
Glaucium flavum
Yellow hornpoppy
1/1/2024
Glechoma hederacea
Ground ivy, creeping charlie
1/1/2024
Glyceria maxima
Great mannagrass, reed mannagrass
1/1/2024
Hippophae rhamnoides
Sea buckthorn
1/1/2024
Ligustrum obtusifolium
Border privet
1/1/2024
Lonicera xylosteum
Dwarf honeysuckle
1/1/2024
Lythrum virgatum
European wand loosestrife
1/1/2024
Miscanthus sacchariflorus
Amur silvergrass
1/1/2024
Petasites japonicus
Fuki, butterbur, giant butterbur
1/1/2024
Phalaris arundinacea
Reed canary grass, variegated ribbon grass
1/1/2024
Photinia villosa
Photinia, christmas berry
1/1/2024
Phragmites australis
Common reed
1/1/2024
Phyllostachys aurea
Golden bamboo
1/1/2024
Phyllostachys aureosulcata
Yellow groove bamboo
1/1/2024
Pyrus calleryana
Callery (“Bradford”) pear
1/1/2024
Ranunculus repens
Creeping buttercup
1/1/2024
Rubus phoenicolasius
Wineberry
1/1/2024
Silphium perfoliatum
Cup plant
1/1/2024
Sorbus aucuparia
European mountain-ash
1/1/2024
Tussilago farfara
Coltsfoot
1/1/2024
Valeriana officinalis
Common valerian
1/1/2024
The committee also completed their “watch list” of plants that are currently on “plant probation” and being closely monitored. The committee will review their findings on these plants in five years and may add them to the do not sell list if they are found to be invasive in that time.
Interesting they may add rugosa roses to the do not sell list in the future.
After walking a good number of miles along Maine’s beaches, it would seem the cat is pretty much out of the bag on that species.
Yes rugosa rose has fully naturalized on the coast at this point. But it seems it only spreads vigorously where the rose hips can float out to sea and land on new beaches.
They even made a special category and rule set for this plant explained in the following article:
I copied the relevant bit:
"The committee ultimately decided on the following compromise: Nurseries will still be permitted to sell rugosa roses, but a label will be necessary, either on the container, in the soil, or in the area of the store where the roses are for sale. The seller must inform the buyer about inappropriate habitats for rugosa roses and it must say “Invasive Terrestrial Plant Species of Special Concern.”
Rugosa roses, also known as “beach roses” due to their profusion on beaches, shouldn’t be planted there. [Rugosa roses] are extremely invasive near bodies of water; the rose hips, the red, Ping-Pong-ball-sized fruit that develops after flowering, can float far away from the original plant and possibly even travel miles. Rugosa roses, however, are not a significant issue if they are grown inland, far from the sea, lakes, or streams, according to Fish.
He went on to say that the beach rose is unique in another way. A cultivar created with an invasive species as one of its parent plants is prohibited by the invasive species law, but that won’t apply to rosa rugosa. Since it has been a component of so many hybrids for such a long time, it would be impossible to enforce such a rule."
I’ve planted dozens of rugosas here in hopes of them someday becoming similar to what I saw in Maine. I doubt that ever happens. We just don’t have the consistent moisture for them to get that big.
I noticed a few trends in that list. The first trend is that a lot of those have the ability to spread a lot. Porcelain berry spreads by birds, callery Pear spread by suckers, and others of that nature spread by rhizome. Second thing I noticed was some plants banned require a lot of water like the Russian Olive is banned here for that reason. Others like to breed out native plants like the white mulberry breeds out the red mulberry. I can see the reason for that I suppose. If my neighbor was like me and controlled the suckers of callery pear I could care less but if they let it go I would be livid. Part of me wonders if we will ever see lists where plants like the pecan or walnut will be banned. Plants in the walnut family can certainly cause issues with many plants as things stand.
That’s quite a list. If I lived in Maine I don’t think I would be too happy with it- especially if they were trying to ban honeyberries. @steveb4 what do people in Maine think? Does Maine still ban currants and gooseberries too?
It does raise an interesting question about what is “native” and what is “invasive”. Some of those plants are native to North America and could have eventually spread to Maine on their own.
Another question- at what point would such a ban run afoul of interstate commerce? Let’s say Maine decides to ban honeyberries the next time around. Honeyberries are definitely a commercial crop. I don’t care about the weeds and trash plants on there, but I think ban on honeyberries would be something that could be challenged in federal court. There have been some interesting court cases surrounding crops and the powers of the federal government.
@clarkinks I figured that one would jump off the page for you. Ya I was a bit surprised as well, as I didn’t think it was spreading in this state like some more south. I guess very southern Maine has some stands of it starting to spread.
The southern half of the state still can’t grow currants and goose berries. They were banned decades ago as an attempt to limit the spread of white pine blister rust.
a ban that should have been discarded eons ago. there are so many wild Ribes growing throughout the state, this ban makes no sense to me. hell even N.Y got rid of theirs. Maine has one of the strictest ban list/ laws in new england and in my opinion is needless as we are also the coldest state and much of whats on these lists are marginally hardy here and wouldnt have the means to become invasive. i do agree some on that list are warranted but like Moose said, targeting a potential commercial crop that grows well where nothing else will is B.S. i think the folks that make these lists are on a power trip these days. most of them are in the southern Maine cites and dont give a damn about the people that live in the OTHER Maine. its always been like that but getting worse in the current political environment.
It is sad to see so many popular fruits on their radar. Sea buckthorn, hardy kiwi, honeyberry?? I wonder if someone could just sell/grow arctic kiwi instead.
I’d be horrified to see a nursery selling Japanese Knotweed or Porcelain berry. Those things spread liek crazy and are very hard to get rid of.
I kind of like wineberry (produces reasonably tasty fruit without much sun), though I understand why people might want to be rid of it. Nasty thorns and spreads fairly easily by birds. But it isn’t on the same level as Porcelain or Knotweed. I don’t try to eliminate wineberry, but I also don’t feel bad about pulling it up where it isn’t convenient, unlike how I’d feel about a nice yellow raspberry (which I’d try to let grow and transplant when dormant).
Hardy kiwi is definitely a strong vigorous grower. A single vine could smother a tree (or a person if they stood still for a bit ). We’re talking about each shoot growing multiple inches each day. But, I don’t think I’d worry about it from an invasive standpoint because it doesn’t easily spread. At least not here. I’ve had a number of vines for over 10 years and I’ve never seen a single seedling.
In terms of being able to kill kiwi, I’ve had a couple vines cut back to the ground (1 intentional, 1 not). Both came back , but not all that fast. I think if I did it one or two more times they would have been done. So, it is strong, but not bulletproof. The one which was accidentally cut down by a tree-cutter is doing fine and the one I wanted to get rid of (space issues) was trasplanted and is also doing OK.
Knotweed, you can cut back a dozen time and it keeps coming. I’ve been cutting back and bathing it in herbicide and that almost controlled it after a few years of effort. I still get some popping up.
But, a kiwi vine will put on a lot of growth quickly. Here’s one of mine that I didn’t prune for a month or two. The fruit at the bottom is on a trellis, about 6’ high, so the big arcing new growth is probably around 10’ now. I went through the other day and cut back a lot, but need to go our with the extension loppers to get the rest.
Hasn’t the Rosa Rugosa helped save the beaches from eroding? This is definitely one plant that has already naturalized. I’ve never heard anyone speak negatively about this plant…most people love them and they are now an iconic part of coastal Maine.
I have 2 of the plants on this list…and I’ll be keeping them.
good question. why honeyberry? we have native honeysuckle in Maine and honeyberry isnt invasive at all . many on this ‘’ list’’ shouldnt be there. someone’s on a power trip.
i frequented the beaches down Everetts way. the roses are beautiful! full of pollinators. only drawback is poison ivy likes to grow in there as well so best to keep your distance.
). We’re talking about each shoot growing multiple inches each day. But, I don’t think I’d worry about it from an invasive standpoint because it doesn’t easily spread. At least not here. I’ve had a number of vines for over 10 years and I’ve never seen a single seedling.