Carolina Fanwort – Cabomba caroliniana NativeProhibited
Recorded in 2 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Carolina Fanwort under “Prohibited in Michigan.”
Michigan invasive plants
Michigan (MI) regulates 19 invasive plants under MCL 324.41301 as amended by MDARD Invasive Species Order Amend. No. 1 of 2026. Michigan's list is a trade restriction, which governs what may be sold, propagated, or moved within the state — in plain terms, which plants are illegal to sell here.
Michigan invasive species list
Michigan restricts 19 plants, including Waterthyme, Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed. Plants marked Prohibited may not be sold, propagated, or moved within Michigan. 15 of the 19 are also flagged invasive by GRIIS, which is an ecological finding rather than a ruling by Michigan. Checked against MCL 324.41301 as amended by MDARD Invasive Species Order Amend. No. 1 of 2026 on July 20, 2026.
Common Frogbit – Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Common Frogbit under “Prohibited in Michigan.”
Giant Hogweed – Heracleum mantegazzianum Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Giant Hogweed under “Prohibited in Michigan.”
Japanese Knotweed – Fallopia japonica (potentially invasive weed) IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 19 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Japanese Knotweed under “Prohibited in Michigan.”
Oxygen-Weed – Lagarosiphon major Not recorded hereProhibited
Recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Oxygen-Weed under “Prohibited in Michigan.”
Water Chestnut – Trapa natans Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Water Chestnut under “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan.”
Water Lettuce – Pistia stratiotes Not recorded hereProhibited
Recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Water Lettuce under “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan.”
Water Soldiers – Stratiotes aloides Not recorded hereProhibited
Recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Water Soldiers under “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan.”
Waterthyme – Hydrilla verticillata Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Waterthyme under “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan.”
Yellow Floatingheart – Nymphoides peltata Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Yellow Floatingheart under “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan.”
Autumn Olive – Elaeagnus umbellata IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 8 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Autumn Olive under “Restricted in Michigan.”
Callery Pear – Pyrus calleryana Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Michigan county. Michigan lists Callery Pear under “Restricted in Michigan.”
Common Buckthorn – Rhamnus cathartica IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 15 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Common Buckthorn under “Restricted in Michigan.”
Curly Pondweed – Potamogeton crispus IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 24 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Curly Pondweed under “Restricted in Michigan.”
Eurasian Watermilfoil – Myriophyllum spicatum IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 9 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Eurasian Watermilfoil under “Restricted in Michigan.”
Flowering Rush – Butomus umbellatus IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 7 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Flowering Rush under “Restricted in Michigan.”
Glossy Buckthorn – Frangula alnus IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 22 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Glossy Buckthorn under “Restricted in Michigan.”
Japanese Barberry – Berberis thunbergii IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 32 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Japanese Barberry under “Restricted in Michigan.”
Purple Loosestrife – Lythrum salicaria IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 39 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan lists Purple Loosestrife under “Restricted in Michigan.”
No plant on Michigan’s list matches that.
4 of these listings are phasing in. The species is named in the rule, but the sale ban has not taken effect yet, so Michigan nurseries may still legally sell it today. The dates are shown in the table.
2 of these plants are native to part of the United States, marked US native above. Nativity is regional. Black locust is native to the Appalachians and regulated in New England; Palmer amaranth is native to the Southwest and listed as an agricultural weed in the Corn Belt. A listing tells you what Michigan regulates, not where a plant belongs. The county checker answers the second question.
Want to check a plant by photo or county?
Use our “Is it native” tool for free.Compiled from the rule itself, retrieved July 20, 2026. Law changes; if you spot a listing we have wrong or stale, tell us at support@getezina.com.
The same list as a table
| Plant | Scientific name | Status | Plant instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Fanwort US native | Cabomba caroliniana | ProhibitedMichigan says “Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Common Frogbit | Hydrocharis morsus-ranae | ProhibitedInvasiveMichigan says “Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Giant Hogweed | Heracleum mantegazzianum | ProhibitedInvasiveMichigan says “Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Japanese Knotweed | Fallopia japonica (potentially invasive weed) | ProhibitedInvasiveMichigan says “Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Oxygen-Weed | Lagarosiphon major | ProhibitedMichigan says “Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Water Chestnut | Trapa natans | ProhibitedInvasiveMichigan says “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Water Lettuce US native | Pistia stratiotes | ProhibitedMichigan says “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Water Soldiers | Stratiotes aloides | ProhibitedMichigan says “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Waterthyme | Hydrilla verticillata | ProhibitedInvasiveMichigan says “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Yellow Floatingheart | Nymphoides peltata | ProhibitedInvasiveMichigan says “Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan” | — |
| Autumn Olive | Elaeagnus umbellata | RestrictedInvasiveMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan” | Smooth Sumac, American Black Elderberry, Washington Hawthorn |
| Callery Pear | Pyrus calleryana | RestrictedInvasivephasing inMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan”propagation January 1, 2028 · sale January 1, 2028 | Paper Birch, Sassafras, Pin Cherry |
| Common Buckthorn | Rhamnus cathartica | RestrictedInvasivephasing inMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan”propagation January 1, 2028 · sale January 1, 2028 | Rough-Leaf Dogwood, Common Witch Hazel, Smooth Sumac |
| Curly Pondweed | Potamogeton crispus | RestrictedInvasiveMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan” | — |
| Eurasian Watermilfoil | Myriophyllum spicatum | RestrictedInvasiveMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan” | — |
| Flowering Rush | Butomus umbellatus | RestrictedInvasiveMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan” | — |
| Glossy Buckthorn | Frangula alnus | RestrictedInvasivephasing inMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan”propagation January 1, 2028 · sale January 1, 2028 | Shining Willow, Speckled Alder, Silky Dogwood |
| Japanese Barberry | Berberis thunbergii | RestrictedInvasivephasing inMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan”propagation January 1, 2028 · sale January 1, 2028 | Oregon Grape, White Meadowsweet, Sweetgale |
| Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria | RestrictedInvasiveMichigan says “Restricted in Michigan” | Great St. Johnswort, Canada Goldenrod, Missouri Ironweed |
Where this comes from
- Michigan listings
- MCL 324.41301 as amended by MDARD Invasive Species Order Amend. No. 1 of 2026. Read the rule.
- Invasive status
- GRIIS, the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species, via GBIF, covering the lower 48 states. A scientific register with no legal force; it is cited separately from the statute above because the two disagree far more often than they agree. Garden crops it flags only for spreading from cultivation are left out after review.
- Status wording
- The Prohibited / Restricted / Listed chips are Ezina’s normalisation across 44 states and are not the legal term. Where Michigan’s own word for a plant differs from the chip, it is quoted verbatim beneath it.
- Nativity
- USDA PLANTS county distribution layer, surfaced through the county checker.
Regulated next door, but not in Michigan
Plants that two or more states bordering Michigan regulate, and Michigan does not. A listing is a legal act rather than an ecological one, so a plant can be a documented problem here and still be sold here.
- Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Asiatic Tearthumb Polygonum perfoliatum regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Cutleaf Teasel Dipsacus laciniatus regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Dames Rocket Hesperis matronalis regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Fuller's Teasel Dipsacus fullonum regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Louise's Swallow-Wort Cynanchum louiseae regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Morrow's Honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Nepalese Browntop Microstegium vimineum regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Nodding Plumeless Thistle Carduus nutans regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Purple-Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica 'Purpurea' regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Spotted Knapweed Centaurea stoebe regulated in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
Questions
Is there an official Michigan invasive species list?
Yes. MCL 324.41301 as amended by MDARD Invasive Species Order Amend. No. 1 of 2026 is Michigan's list, naming 19 plants under a trade restriction, which governs what may be sold, propagated, or moved within the state — in plain terms, which plants are illegal to sell here. GRIIS, the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species, flags 15 of these 19 as invasive in the lower 48 states. That is an ecological finding, not a ruling by Michigan. This page shows both side by side.
What plants are illegal to sell in Michigan?
19 plants are regulated under MCL 324.41301 as amended by MDARD Invasive Species Order Amend. No. 1 of 2026. Plants marked Prohibited may not be sold, propagated, or moved within Michigan. Plants marked Restricted carry narrower limits set by the rule.
Is my plant invasive in Michigan?
Search the table on this page for Michigan's legal determination, then look for the Invasive chip beside it, which is a separate ecological finding from GRIIS rather than a ruling by Michigan. A plant can carry one, both, or neither. For an address-level answer, enter the plant's name in Ezina's checker to get its Michigan status alongside whether USDA records it as native to your specific county. Every answer links the record it came from.
Is it illegal to plant these in Michigan?
For the plants marked Prohibited, MCL 324.41301 as amended by MDARD Invasive Species Order Amend. No. 1 of 2026 bars selling, propagating, or moving them within Michigan. Whether planting one you already own is itself an offence depends on that rule's exact wording, which is why every plant on this page links the citation rather than us paraphrasing it. Plants marked Restricted carry narrower limits the rule sets out.
Does a plant missing from this list mean it is safe to plant in Michigan?
No. This page reproduces what Michigan regulates, and a state list is a legal instrument rather than an ecological verdict. Plenty of plants spread aggressively without ever being listed, and states add species years after the problem is documented.
Grow natives easily with Ezina
How it works
We provide the tools you need to succeed.
010.1Identify
Add a plant
Snap a photo or type the name. Ezina matches it to a library of about 40,000 species and starts a care plan tailored to your zone, the local weather, and the time of year.
010.2Care
Get a care plan
A schedule built from local rain, temperature, and sun, not a fixed weekly cadence. You get a single notification when a plant actually needs water. Easily add treatments for diseases and pests.
010.3Plan
Explore new options
Our garden planner Dig helps you understand what works best for your location and makes suggestions based off your long term goals.
Add a plant
Snap a photo or type the name. Ezina matches it to a library of about 40,000 species and starts a care plan tailored to your zone, the local weather, and the time of year.
Get a care plan
A schedule built from local rain, temperature, and sun, not a fixed weekly cadence. You get a single notification when a plant actually needs water. Easily add treatments for diseases and pests.
Explore new options
Our garden planner Dig helps you understand what works best for your location and makes suggestions based off your long term goals.
Compiled from peer-reviewed research, USDA documentation,
and direct scientific observation across the United States.