Some plants might look harmless, but in Minnesota, a few common favorites could actually be illegal to grow. Planting them could get you in serious trouble without even knowing it.
I’ve dug into the list, and a few surprises might be hiding in your own garden. Let’s take a look at the plants you should avoid to stay on the safe side!
1. Purple Loosestrife
The vibrant purple flowers might catch your eye, but they’re a serious threat to Minnesota’s wetlands. This aggressive invader crowds out native species and disrupts natural habitats.
Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources specifically prohibits planting this beauty due to how quickly it spreads. One plant can produce over two million seeds annually!
2. Japanese Barberry
Those thorny red-leaved shrubs many homeowners love? They’re actually restricted in parts of Minnesota. Japanese Barberry creates perfect tick habitats, increasing Lyme disease risks in residential areas.
Wildlife officials across the North Star State have documented how these shrubs escape gardens and invade forests. Several cultivars are now prohibited from sale.
3. Buckthorn
Originally brought to Minnesota as a hedge plant, buckthorn quickly became public enemy number one in forest conservation. Its dense thickets prevent native tree seedlings from growing.
Minnesota spends millions annually fighting this invasive nightmare. Both common and glossy buckthorn are prohibited, and property owners are often required to remove existing plants.
4. Multiflora Rose
Don’t let the pretty white flowers fool you! This aggressive climbing rose forms impenetrable thorny thickets that take over natural areas. Birds spread the seeds far beyond garden boundaries.
Minnesota conservation officers regularly find it choking out native vegetation along roadsides and in parks. Once established, it’s extremely difficult to eradicate from the landscape.
5. Oriental Bittersweet
Those festive orange berries used in fall decorations? They’re from a vine that’s strangling Minnesota’s forests. Oriental bittersweet wraps around trees, eventually killing them by restricting growth.
Throughout the Land of 10,000 Lakes, this aggressive climber is prohibited. Many gardeners mistakenly plant it, not realizing it can grow 60 feet long and destroy mature trees.
6. Giant Hogweed
You might think this dramatic plant with huge white flower heads would make a statement in your garden. The problem? Its sap causes severe burns and blisters when skin is exposed to sunlight.
Minnesota agriculture officials actively track and eliminate this dangerous plant. If you spot it growing anywhere in the state, you’re required to report it immediately.
7. Water Hyacinth
Floating gardens might seem like a peaceful addition to your backyard pond in Minnesota. Water hyacinth, however, can double its population in just two weeks, completely choking waterways.
The Minnesota DNR strictly regulates this attractive purple-flowered plant. Even though harsh winters often kill it, it’s still considered too risky for the state’s valuable water resources.
8. Garlic Mustard
What starts as a few innocent-looking plants can quickly take over your entire yard. Garlic mustard releases chemicals that prevent other plants from growing nearby, creating a monoculture.
Minnesota woodland areas are particularly vulnerable to this European invader. The biennial plant is prohibited statewide and subject to mandatory removal orders in many counties.
9. Amur Maple
Many gardeners are shocked to learn this popular ornamental tree is actually restricted. Its winged seeds travel far on the wind, establishing in natural areas where it outcompetes native species.
Throughout Minnesota’s prairie regions, this maple is particularly problematic. While some nurseries still sell it, conservation experts strongly discourage planting it in or near the state.
10. Yellow Iris
Those sunny yellow blooms might brighten your water garden, but they’re darkening the future of Minnesota’s wetlands. Yellow iris forms dense colonies that displace native vegetation critical for wildlife.
Minnesota conservation officers regularly find this European beauty establishing in protected wetlands. Its rhizomes are so tough they can grow through asphalt, making removal extremely difficult.
11. Norway Maple
With its dense shade and vibrant fall color, this maple seems like the perfect yard tree. Unfortunately, it’s an ecological troublemaker throughout Minnesota’s woodland edges and urban forests.
The Land of 10,000 Lakes has seen this European import crowd out native sugar maples. Its shallow roots and dense canopy prevent almost anything from growing underneath it.
12. Porcelain Berry
Don’t be fooled by those eye-catching blue and purple berries! This ornamental vine quickly escapes gardens and smothers native vegetation under its aggressive growth.
Minnesota natural resource managers have documented its spread through the southern parts of the state. Birds love the colorful berries, spreading seeds widely and creating new infestations far from the original planting.
13. Winged Burning Bush
Famous for its brilliant red fall foliage, this common landscape shrub is actually restricted in parts of Minnesota. Its prolific seed production leads to unwanted spread into natural areas.
Throughout the North Star State’s woodlands, escaped burning bush displaces native understory plants. While dwarf varieties are sometimes permitted, the standard form is increasingly regulated by conservation authorities.