Basketgrass – Oplismenus hirtellus Not recorded hereProhibited
Recorded in no Virginia county. Virginia lists Basketgrass under “Tier 2.”
Virginia invasive plants
Virginia (VA) regulates 26 invasive plants under 2VAC5-317-20. Virginia'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.
Virginia invasive species list
Virginia restricts 26 plants, including Purple Loosestrife, Giant Hogweed and Water Chestnut. Plants marked Prohibited may not be sold, propagated, or moved within Virginia. 21 of the 26 are also flagged invasive by GRIIS, which is an ecological finding rather than a ruling by Virginia. Checked against 2VAC5-317-20 on July 20, 2026.
Beach Vitex – Vitex rotundifolia Not recorded hereProhibited
Recorded in no Virginia county. Virginia lists Beach Vitex under “Tier 2.”
Blood Grass – Imperata cylindrica Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Virginia county. Virginia lists Blood Grass under “Tier 2.”
Giant Hogweed – Heracleum mantegazzianum Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Virginia county. Virginia lists Giant Hogweed under “Tier 1.”
Incised Fumewort – Corydalis incisa Not recorded hereProhibited
Recorded in no Virginia county. Virginia lists Incised Fumewort under “Tier 2.”
Kariba-Weed – Salvinia molesta IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 1 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Kariba-Weed under “Tier 1.”
Purple Loosestrife – Lythrum salicaria IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 24 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Purple Loosestrife under “Tier 2.”
Swamp Morning-Glory – Ipomoea aquatica Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Virginia county. Virginia lists Swamp Morning-Glory under “Tier 2.”
Tropical Soda Apple – Solanum viarum Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Virginia county. Virginia lists Tropical Soda Apple under “Tier 1.”
Water Chestnut – Trapa natans Not recorded hereInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in no Virginia county. Virginia lists Water Chestnut under “Tier 2.”
Amur Honeysuckle – Lonicera maackii IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 8 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Amur Honeysuckle under “Tier 3.”
Asiatic Tearthumb – Polygonum perfoliatum IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 2 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Asiatic Tearthumb under “Tier 3.”
Autumn Olive – Elaeagnus umbellata IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 46 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Autumn Olive under “Tier 3.”
Blueberry Creeper – Ampelopsis brevipedunculata IntroducedRestricted
Recorded in 10 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Blueberry Creeper under “Tier 3.”
Chinese Yam – Dioscorea oppositifolia IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 56 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Chinese Yam under “Tier 3.”
Common Reed – Phragmites australis NativeRestricted
Recorded in 49 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Common Reed under “Tier 3.”
Fig Buttercup – Ranunculus ficaria IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 3 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Fig Buttercup under “Tier 3.”
Garlic Mustard – Alliaria petiolata IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 51 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Garlic Mustard under “Tier 3.”
Japanese Knotweed – Fallopia japonica (potentially invasive weed) IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 40 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Japanese Knotweed under “Tier 3.”
Kudzu – Pueraria montana IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 67 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Kudzu under “Tier 3.”
Oriental Bittersweet – Celastrus orbiculatus IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 27 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Oriental Bittersweet under “Tier 3.”
Purple-Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica 'Purpurea' IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 99 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Purple-Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle under “Tier 3.”
Shrub Lespedeza – Lespedeza bicolor IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 42 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Shrub Lespedeza under “Tier 3.”
Siberian Elm – Ulmus pumila IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 7 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Siberian Elm under “Tier 3.”
Tree of Heaven – Ailanthus altissima IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 94 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Tree of Heaven under “Tier 3.”
Waterthyme – Hydrilla verticillata IntroducedInvasive
Invasive in the US, and recorded in 5 of Virginia’s 134 counties. Virginia lists Waterthyme under “Tier 3.”
No plant on Virginia’s list matches that.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basketgrass | Oplismenus hirtellus | ProhibitedVirginia says “Tier 2” | — |
| Beach Vitex | Vitex rotundifolia | ProhibitedVirginia says “Tier 2” | — |
| Blood Grass | Imperata cylindrica | ProhibitedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 2” | Purple Love Grass, Manyspike Flatsedge, Needle Spikerush |
| Giant Hogweed | Heracleum mantegazzianum | ProhibitedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 1” | — |
| Incised Fumewort | Corydalis incisa | ProhibitedVirginia says “Tier 2” | — |
| Kariba-Weed | Salvinia molesta | ProhibitedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 1” | — |
| Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria | ProhibitedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 2” | Wand Lythrum, Canada Goldenrod, Common Cowparsnip |
| Swamp Morning-Glory | Ipomoea aquatica | ProhibitedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 2” | — |
| Tropical Soda Apple | Solanum viarum | ProhibitedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 1” | — |
| Water Chestnut | Trapa natans | ProhibitedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 2” | — |
| Amur Honeysuckle | Lonicera maackii | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | Common Witch Hazel, Smooth Sumac, Shining Willow |
| Asiatic Tearthumb | Polygonum perfoliatum | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | — |
| Autumn Olive | Elaeagnus umbellata | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | Smooth Sumac, Northern Bayberry, Bayberry |
| Blueberry Creeper | Ampelopsis brevipedunculata | RestrictedVirginia says “Tier 3” | Muscadine, Frost Grape, Trumpet Honeysuckle |
| Chinese Yam | Dioscorea oppositifolia | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | Muscadine, Riverbank Grape, Frost Grape |
| Common Reed | Phragmites australis | RestrictedVirginia says “Tier 3” | — |
| Fig Buttercup | Ranunculus ficaria | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | Mississippi Buttercup, Longbeak Buttercup, Blue Eyed Grass |
| Garlic Mustard | Alliaria petiolata | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | — |
| Japanese Knotweed | Fallopia japonica (potentially invasive weed) | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | — |
| Kudzu | Pueraria montana | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | Trumpet Honeysuckle, Spanish Moss, Muscadine |
| Oriental Bittersweet | Celastrus orbiculatus | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | American Bittersweet, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Yellow Passionflower |
| Purple-Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica 'Purpurea' | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | Trumpet Honeysuckle, Trumpet Vine, Devil's Darning Needles |
| Shrub Lespedeza | Lespedeza bicolor | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | — |
| Siberian Elm | Ulmus pumila | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | Winged Elm, Western Catalpa, Kentucky Coffeetree |
| Tree of Heaven | Ailanthus altissima | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | Western Catalpa, Kentucky Coffeetree, Post Oak |
| Waterthyme | Hydrilla verticillata | RestrictedInvasiveVirginia says “Tier 3” | — |
Where this comes from
- Virginia listings
- 2VAC5-317-20. 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 Virginia’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 Virginia
Plants that two or more states bordering Virginia regulate, and Virginia 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.
- Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii regulated in Maryland, West Virginia
- Morrow's Honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii regulated in Tennessee, West Virginia
- Nodding Plumeless Thistle Carduus nutans regulated in North Carolina, West Virginia
- Spiny Plumeless Thistle Carduus acanthoides regulated in North Carolina, West Virginia
Questions
Is there an official Virginia invasive species list?
Yes. 2VAC5-317-20 is Virginia's list, naming 26 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 21 of these 26 as invasive in the lower 48 states. That is an ecological finding, not a ruling by Virginia. This page shows both side by side.
What plants are illegal to sell in Virginia?
26 plants are regulated under 2VAC5-317-20. Plants marked Prohibited may not be sold, propagated, or moved within Virginia. Plants marked Restricted carry narrower limits set by the rule.
Is my plant invasive in Virginia?
Search the table on this page for Virginia's legal determination, then look for the Invasive chip beside it, which is a separate ecological finding from GRIIS rather than a ruling by Virginia. 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 Virginia 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 Virginia?
For the plants marked Prohibited, 2VAC5-317-20 bars selling, propagating, or moving them within Virginia. 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 Virginia?
No. This page reproduces what Virginia 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
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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.