Beginning October 6, 2021, Japanese
barberry and two other invasive plant species were added to the list of plants
that are illegal to propagate or sell in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee placed a notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin on August 7 officially adding the following species to
the Noxious Weed List as Class B noxious weeds:
• Berberis
thunbergia, Japanese barberry
• Microstegium
vimineum, Japanese stiltgrass
• Alliaria
petiolate, garlic mustard
This becomes effective 60 days
after notice.
Most notable is the addition of
Japanese barberry, a popular nursery and landscaping plant. Until the
Department of Agriculture develops a process to apply for permission to sell
sterile varieties, both sterile and nonsterile varieties are banned.
The first two years of enforcement
will be incremental, to allow for outreach to plant merchants, landscape
professionals, and other states to enable the industry to work towards
compliance.
Noxious weeds are determined to be
injurious to public health, crops, livestock, and agricultural land or other
property and cannot be sold, transported, planted, or otherwise propagated in
Pennsylvania. Class B noxious weeds are widely established and cannot feasibly
be eradicated. You can learn more about the Pennsylvania’s Noxious weed law by
clicking here.