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Is Burning bush illegal in Pennsylvania?
Sources (6)
- 3 Pa.C.S. § 1519 Noxious weed list – Pennsylvania General Assembly
- PDA — Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed Lists (current additions) – Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Pa. Bulletin, Doc. 21-2067 (Dec 11, 2021) — Callery pear added, Class B – Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
- Pa. Bulletin, 52 Pa.B. 7000 (Nov 12, 2022) — burning bush and privets added – Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
- Pa. Bulletin, 52 Pa.B. 3110 (May 28, 2022) — barberry enforcement date and exempt cultivars – Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
- Pa. Bulletin, Doc. 21-1239 (Aug 2021) — Japanese barberry added, Class B – Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
Also called: winged euonymus, Euonymus alatus. Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-14.
Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200): Burning bush is not listed.
What Pennsylvania's official list says
| List / legal category | Listed as | List note | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class B noxious weed (PDA Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed List, 3 Pa.C.S. § 1511) — cannot be sold, transported, planted or otherwise propagated in Pennsylvania | Euonymus alatus | Burning bush — listed effective Jan 11, 2023 (60 days after 52 Pa.B. 7000, Nov 12, 2022) | Yes — listed as prohibited |
Effective dates
- listed effective Jan 11, 2023 (60 days after 52 Pa.B. 7000, Nov 12, 2022) (from the official list entry)
Already have it in your yard?
Most state invasive-plant laws, including the list wording above, target selling, distributing, propagating or planting. They generally do not order you to remove a plant already in your yard, but some noxious-weed laws do require control. Read the linked law or ask your county Extension office.
Native alternatives for Pennsylvania
- Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
- Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
- Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
- Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
- Strawberry bush (Euonymus americanus)
Each is recorded as native to Pennsylvania in the USDA NRCS PLANTS Database state distribution (retrieved 2026-10-14). Check size, sun and soil fit for your site with your local Extension office.
More native swaps with hardiness, light and size →
Burning bush in other states
Connecticut Delaware Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri New Hampshire New Jersey New York Vermont Virginia Wisconsin
See every plant on Pennsylvania's invasive & noxious plant lists, or check any plant.
Not legal advice. PlantLegit summarizes official lists and links the source. Laws change, local (county/city) rules may add restrictions, and the official text controls. "What it means" is our plain-English label; read the exact list wording. Confirm with the agency before buying, selling or removing plants. Full disclaimer.