Growing your own food sounds like a great idea, right? Fresh vegetables and herbs from your backyard can save money and taste amazing.
However, Nebraska has some surprising laws about what you can and cannot grow on your property. Some plants that seem harmless might actually land you in legal trouble if you are not careful.
1. Hemp Plants
Hemp looks almost identical to its cousin marijuana, which makes it tricky for law enforcement. Nebraska has strict rules about growing hemp without proper licenses and permits from the state agriculture department.
Even though federal law changed in 2018, Nebraska requires special authorization. Growing hemp without permission can result in serious fines or even criminal charges, depending on how much you have planted in your yard.
2. Bamboo Varieties
Bamboo might seem like a cool addition to your garden, but certain types spread like wildfire. Running bamboo species can invade neighboring properties, causing damage to foundations, driveways, and underground pipes.
Nebraska considers invasive bamboo a nuisance plant. If your bamboo crosses property lines and causes problems, you could face legal action from neighbors. Always check local ordinances before planting any bamboo species in your backyard garden area.
3. Japanese Knotweed
This plant earned a reputation as one of the most destructive invasive species in North America. Japanese knotweed grows incredibly fast and can break through concrete, asphalt, and building foundations with ease.
Nebraska law prohibits planting or cultivating Japanese knotweed anywhere within state boundaries. The roots spread underground for dozens of feet, making removal nearly impossible once established. Property owners must remove it immediately if discovered growing on their land.
4. Wild Parsnip
Wild parsnip produces beautiful yellow flowers, but touching it can cause severe skin burns. The plant contains toxic sap that reacts with sunlight, creating painful blisters that can last for weeks or months.
Nebraska classifies wild parsnip as a noxious weed that landowners must control. Growing it intentionally violates state agricultural codes. Many counties require property owners to eradicate wild parsnip immediately to protect public health and safety from chemical burns.
5. Purple Loosestrife
With gorgeous purple-pink flowers, purple loosestrife looks stunning in gardens. Unfortunately, this pretty plant destroys wetlands and crowds out native species that wildlife depends on for food and shelter.
Nebraska lists purple loosestrife as a prohibited noxious weed throughout the entire state. Planting or selling it breaks state law. Each plant produces millions of seeds annually, allowing it to spread rapidly across waterways and natural habitats beyond your property.
6. Musk Thistle
Musk thistle features striking purple flowers that nod downward, but ranchers and farmers consider it a nightmare. This aggressive weed takes over pastures and cropland, reducing grazing areas and lowering property values significantly.
Nebraska law requires all landowners to control musk thistle on their property. Growing it deliberately violates noxious weed regulations. County weed control boards can force removal and charge you for the work if you refuse to eliminate it yourself.
7. Leafy Spurge
Leafy spurge contains milky sap that irritates skin and poisons livestock who accidentally eat it. The deep root system makes this weed extremely difficult to remove once it establishes itself in your yard.
Nebraska classifies leafy spurge as a noxious weed requiring mandatory control measures. Roots can extend fifteen feet underground, allowing plants to survive herbicides and return year after year. Property owners face penalties for allowing leafy spurge to spread from their land.
8. Canada Thistle
Despite its name, Canada thistle actually came from Europe and Asia centuries ago. This persistent weed spreads through underground roots that travel horizontally, creating new plants several feet away from the original.
Nebraska requires property owners to control Canada thistle populations on their land. Deliberately planting it violates state noxious weed laws. The plant reduces crop yields and competes with garden vegetables for water, nutrients, and sunlight throughout the growing season.
9. Saltcedar Trees
Saltcedar trees might provide nice shade, but they guzzle water at an alarming rate. A single mature tree can consume two hundred gallons of water daily, draining rivers, streams, and groundwater supplies in drought-prone areas.
Nebraska prohibits planting saltcedar because it threatens water resources and native vegetation. The trees increase soil salinity, making land unsuitable for crops. Removing established saltcedar costs thousands of dollars, so prevention through legal restrictions remains the best approach.
10. Phragmites Reeds
Phragmites reeds grow tall and thick, forming impenetrable walls in wetlands and ditches. Native species cannot compete with these aggressive plants, leading to habitat loss for birds, fish, and other wildlife.
Nebraska regulates phragmites as an invasive species in many counties. Growing them intentionally disrupts ecosystems and violates environmental protection laws. The plants spread through underground stems and windblown seeds, making containment nearly impossible once they establish themselves in an area.