Arkansas gardens can be full of charm, but not every plant belongs there. Some species might look harmless at first, yet they’re invasive, harmful, or even illegal to grow.
They can spread quickly, hurt local ecosystems, and create more problems than beauty. Let’s uncover 13 plants you’ll want to keep out of your yard to stay safe and trouble-free.
1. Purple Loosestrife
This deceptively pretty flowering plant might catch your eye at first glance. Unfortunately, in Arkansas, it’s considered a serious threat to wetland ecosystems because it quickly takes over and pushes out native species.
The Natural State has banned its cultivation to protect local biodiversity. One plant can produce over two million seeds annually!
2. Giant Hogweed
Watch out for this dangerous plant that can cause severe burns and blindness! The sap contains chemicals that make skin extremely sensitive to sunlight, resulting in painful blisters that can leave permanent scars.
Arkansas officials take this threat seriously and have banned it statewide. Even brief contact requires immediate washing with soap and water.
3. Japanese Knotweed
This bamboo-like invader might seem harmless, but don’t be fooled. Throughout Arkansas, Japanese Knotweed can damage foundations, roads, and flood defenses with its powerful root system that can extend 20 feet deep.
The plant spreads aggressively, with even tiny fragments capable of growing into new plants. Removal often requires professional help and persistent treatment.
4. Water Hyacinth
Those lovely floating lavender flowers hide a menace to Arkansas waterways. Water Hyacinth forms thick mats that block sunlight, deplete oxygen, and impede boat traffic on lakes and rivers across the state.
A single plant can multiply into 600 more in just three months! Arkansas has banned this beauty to protect its important water resources and native aquatic ecosystems.
5. Kudzu
Known as “the vine that ate the South,” Kudzu is no stranger to Arkansas. This aggressive climber can grow up to a foot per day in summer, completely smothering trees, utility poles, and abandoned buildings.
Originally introduced for erosion control, it’s now banned because it causes millions in damages annually. The Arkansas Agriculture Department actively works to prevent its spread.
6. Tree of Heaven
Despite its heavenly name, this tree is a real devil in Arkansas yards. It produces chemicals that prevent other plants from growing nearby and serves as the primary host for spotted lanternflies, a destructive pest.
The tree’s rapid growth and prolific seed production make it nearly impossible to control once established. Many Arkansas counties have active removal programs in place.
7. Multiflora Rose
Those delicate white flowers hide a beast that’s taken over countless Arkansas properties. Multiflora Rose forms impenetrable thorny thickets that can grow up to 15 feet tall and spread 10 feet annually.
Once planted as living fences for livestock, it’s now banned across the Natural State. A single plant can produce up to a million seeds that remain viable in soil for decades!
8. Giant Salvinia
This floating fern might look innocent, but it’s a nightmare for Arkansas lakes and ponds. Giant Salvinia can double its coverage every week, quickly forming mats up to three feet thick that choke waterways.
Boaters in Arkansas are required to clean their equipment to prevent its spread. The plant is so problematic that special weevils have been released in some areas as biological control.
9. Chinese Tallow
Fall color enthusiasts beware! This autumn showstopper with heart-shaped leaves turns vibrant red, but it’s banned throughout Arkansas for good reason. Chinese Tallow trees crowd out native species and alter soil chemistry.
Each tree produces up to 100,000 seeds annually that birds eagerly spread. The Arkansas Forestry Commission actively encourages property owners to remove these trees when found.
10. Cogongrass
This innocent-looking grass is actually one of the world’s worst weeds and completely banned in Arkansas. Cogongrass forms dense stands that crowd out native plants and create intense fire hazards with its highly flammable leaves.
The silky white seed heads might look pretty, but they help it spread rapidly. Arkansas officials urge residents to report any sightings to prevent its establishment in the state.
11. Tropical Soda Apple
Arkansas farmers fear this thorny nightmare that threatens pastures and natural areas. The spiny stems and leaves make it impossible for livestock to graze, while its yellow fruits spread seeds far and wide.
Originally from South America, it’s now banned in the Natural State. The Arkansas Plant Board conducts regular surveys to catch and eradicate early infestations before they spread.
12. Brazilian Elodea
Aquarium owners in Arkansas should never dump this popular tank plant into local waters! Brazilian Elodea forms dense underwater forests that clog boat propellers and crowd out native aquatic vegetation.
Once established, it’s nearly impossible to eradicate. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has banned its possession to protect the state’s important recreational waterways from this underwater invader.
13. Poison Hemlock
Looking like oversized Queen Anne’s Lace, this deadly plant is prohibited throughout Arkansas. Every part contains toxic alkaloids that can cause respiratory failure and death if ingested, with no known antidote.
The white flower clusters appear in spring along roadsides and stream banks. Arkansas poison control centers report cases every year from accidental exposure to this dangerous plant.