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Is Oriental bittersweet illegal in Iowa?
Sources (3)
- Iowa Code § 317.1A (Iowa Legislature, 2026 Code, PDF)
- Iowa Code ch. 317 Weeds (PDF) – Iowa Legislature
- Iowa Code § 317.25 — invasive plants prohibited: no import, sale, offer for sale or distribution (teasel, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, Oriental bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, Japanese hop, Palmer amaranth) – Iowa Legislature
Also called: Asian bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus. Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-15.
Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200): Oriental bittersweet is not listed.
What Iowa's official list says
| List / legal category | Listed as | List note | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive plant sale ban (Iowa Code § 317.25) — no importing, selling, offering for sale or distributing in any form, including seeds | Celastrus orbiculatus | Oriental bittersweet | Yes — listed as prohibited |
Effective dates
- The official list entry does not state a separate effective date for this species. See the linked law for when the listing took effect.
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 Iowa
- American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
- Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana)
- Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)
Each is recorded as native to Iowa 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 →
Oriental bittersweet in other states
Connecticut Delaware Illinois Indiana Maine Massachusetts Minnesota New Hampshire New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Vermont Virginia Washington Wisconsin
See every plant on Iowa'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.