Thinking about growing some unique plants in your Utah backyard? Be careful! State laws restrict certain plants that might seem harmless but could land you in legal hot water.
Whether for their invasive nature, drug content, or environmental impact, these plants are off-limits to home gardeners in the Beehive State.
1. Cannabis (Marijuana)
Despite changing laws in other states, growing cannabis remains strictly prohibited in Utah without proper medical authorization. Even a single plant can result in felony charges with potential jail time and hefty fines.
The state takes enforcement seriously, using both police reports and anonymous tips to identify illegal growing operations. Legal medical cannabis must come through state-approved pharmacies, not home gardens.
2. Opium Poppies
Many gardeners don’t realize that those beautiful red poppies might be illegal. Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, contains narcotic compounds and is banned under federal law.
Growing these flowers, even as ornamentals, could violate both state and federal regulations. Law enforcement doesn’t always distinguish between innocent gardening and drug production, so avoid these deceptively pretty blooms altogether.
3. Peyote Cactus
Lophophora williamsii might look like an innocent button-shaped cactus, but it contains mescaline, a powerful hallucinogen. Utah law strictly prohibits cultivating this plant outside very limited religious exemptions for Native American church use.
Penalties for growing peyote can be severe, including criminal charges. Many gardeners accidentally purchase these cacti online without realizing the serious legal consequences they could face.
4. Khat (Catha edulis)
Originally from East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, khat contains cathinone, a stimulant similar to amphetamine. The plant thrives in Utah’s dry climate, making it a tempting crop for some immigrant communities familiar with its use.
Federal law classifies cathinone as a Schedule I controlled substance. Growing khat can result in serious drug trafficking charges, regardless of cultural traditions or personal use intentions.
5. Dyer’s Woad
Once valued for producing blue dye, Dyer’s woad is now considered one of Utah’s most noxious weeds. This invasive plant aggressively outcompetes native species and damages rangeland.
Utah law specifically prohibits growing, possessing, or transporting this plant. Property owners can face fines if they knowingly allow it to grow. The yellow-flowering invader spreads rapidly, making control efforts extremely difficult once established.
6. Jimsonweed (Datura)
The trumpet-shaped flowers of jimsonweed might look ornamental, but this plant contains dangerous levels of tropane alkaloids. All parts are toxic, causing hallucinations, seizures, and even death.
Utah classifies intentional cultivation as illegal due to both its toxicity and potential for abuse. Some gardeners mistakenly grow it for its night-blooming flowers, unaware that having this plant could violate state agricultural regulations.
7. Kratom Trees
Native to Southeast Asia, kratom contains compounds with opioid-like effects. Utah has specific laws restricting kratom products not meeting certain requirements, and growing the actual trees is legally problematic.
The DEA has considered classifying kratom as a controlled substance. While some Utah residents attempt to grow these tropical trees indoors, doing so could potentially violate state regulations regarding unregulated medicinal plants.
8. Morning Glory (Certain Varieties)
Surprisingly, some morning glory varieties contain LSA, a compound similar to LSD. While most ornamental varieties are legal, specifically growing Hawaiian Baby Woodrose or certain Ipomoea varieties for their psychoactive properties is prohibited.
Utah law enforcement may investigate suspicious cultivation patterns. Many gardeners unknowingly purchase these seeds, but intentionally growing them for drug purposes could result in controlled substance charges.
9. Iboga Plant
The African iboga plant contains ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic with addiction-interrupting properties. Despite medical interest, it remains illegal under federal law as a Schedule I substance.
Growing this rare plant in Utah violates both state and federal regulations. Some underground addiction treatment networks have attempted cultivation, but possession can result in serious criminal charges comparable to those for heroin or cocaine.
10. Scotch Broom
Those bright yellow flowers might look cheerful, but Scotch broom is classified as a noxious weed in Utah. This invasive shrub forms dense thickets that displace native plants and increase wildfire risk in the state’s already fire-prone areas.
Utah’s Noxious Weed Act prohibits intentionally growing or transporting this plant. Property owners can face fines and mandatory removal orders if they deliberately plant it, even as an ornamental border or privacy screen.
11. San Pedro Cactus
While often sold legally as an ornamental plant, the San Pedro cactus contains mescaline—the same compound found in peyote. Growing it specifically for its psychoactive properties violates Utah’s controlled substance laws.
Law enforcement typically doesn’t target those with a single decorative cactus. However, cultivating multiple specimens or extracting mescaline could lead to serious legal consequences. The line between ornamental gardening and illegal drug production remains dangerously blurry.