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Is Japanese honeysuckle illegal in Missouri?
Sources (4)
- 2 CSR 70-45 Noxious Weed Rules (Missouri SOS, PDF) – Missouri Secretary of State (CSR)
- RSMo § 263.190 (Missouri Revisor)
- Missouri Dept. of Agriculture — noxious weed list
- RSMo § 263.070 (nursery dealer affidavit; Callery pear, burning bush, Japanese honeysuckle and others) – Missouri Revisor of Statutes
Also called: Hall's honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica. Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-14.
Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200): Japanese honeysuckle is not listed.
What Missouri's official list says
| List / legal category | Listed as | List note | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery-dealer prohibition (RSMo § 263.070.5(1)(d)) — registered nursery dealers may not knowingly import, export, buy, sell, transport, distribute or propagate it | Lonicera japonica | Japanese honeysuckle, all varieties and cultivars — prohibited from January 1, 2027 | Restricted on a phase-in schedule |
Effective dates
- prohibited from January 1, 2027 (from the official list entry)
Already have it in your yard?
Phase-in laws generally target nurseries and sellers on the dates shown. Plants already in the ground are typically not covered by sale bans; read the linked law for your situation.
Native alternatives for Missouri
- Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
- Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)
- Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana)
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Each is recorded as native to Missouri 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 →
Japanese honeysuckle in other states
Connecticut Delaware Florida Illinois Indiana Maine Massachusetts Minnesota New Hampshire New York Ohio Vermont Virginia Wisconsin
See every plant on Missouri'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.