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Is Purple loosestrife illegal in Indiana?
Sources (5)
- 312 IAC 18-3-25 (LII) – Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute
- Indiana DNR — Terrestrial invasive plants – State of Indiana (IN.gov)
- Indiana DNR Terrestrial Plant Rule brochure (PDF) – State of Indiana (IN.gov)
- 312 IAC 18 (official Indiana Administrative Code) — 18-3-25 terrestrial plant rule; 18-3-13 multiflora rose and Lythrum; 18-3-16 kudzu
- Indiana Register, LSA Document #18-316(F) — final rule adding 312 IAC 18-3-25 (filed March 18, 2019; effective 30 days after filing) – Indiana Administrative Code / Indiana Register (Legislative Services Agency)
Also called: Lythrum salicaria. Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-15.
Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200): Purple loosestrife is not listed.
What Indiana's official list says
| List / legal category | Listed as | List note | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lythrum rule (312 IAC 18-3-13(c), (e)) — no selling, offering for sale, giving away or otherwise distributing seeds or plants of any Lythrum species, except native Lythrum under a permit | Lythrum (any species) (genus-level listing — check exceptions) | purple loosestrife — covers every Lythrum species; civil penalty $500 per site, each year a separate offense (312 IAC 18-3-13(g)) | Yes — listed as prohibited |
Effective dates
- The rule entry gives no separate date. 312 IAC 18-3-13 was first filed November 22, 1996 (20 IR 952) and amended March 23, 2001 (24 IR 2403); it was most recently readopted (filed March 25, 2025) (history note, official Indiana Administrative Code).
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. Indiana's Lythrum rule says no one may sell, offer for sale, give away or otherwise distribute seeds or plants of any Lythrum species (purple loosestrife) in Indiana; native Lythrum may be sold or distributed only for an approved project under a prior permit (312 IAC 18-3-13(c), (e)). It does not order owners to remove a plant already growing, but a person who maintains or distributes it in violation of the rule faces a civil penalty of $500 per site, each year a separate offense, and may be required to destroy the unlawful plants and restore the site (312 IAC 18-3-13(g)). Purple loosestrife is not on Indiana's separate 44-plant Terrestrial Plant Rule list (312 IAC 18-3-25).
Native alternatives for Indiana
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata)
- Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- Sweet Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
Each is recorded as native to Indiana 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.
Purple loosestrife in other states
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Idaho Illinois Iowa Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
See every plant on Indiana'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.