What can I plant instead of Border privet in Maryland?

Natives recorded for Maryland in USDA PLANTS that fill a similar role: Inkberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Winterberry, Ninebark, Sweet pepperbush, Evergreen bayberry. Border privet status in Maryland: Yes — listed as prohibited.

Is Border privet illegal in Maryland?

Yes — listed as prohibited. On an official state list that prohibits sale and/or distribution (exact wording below). See the official source on our Maryland answer page. Not legal advice.

Native swaps › Border privet › Maryland

What to plant instead of Border privet in Maryland

Sources (16)

All sources (works cited) →

6 plants recorded as native to Maryland in the USDA NRCS PLANTS Database that fill a similar garden role to Border privet.

Border privet in Maryland: Yes — listed as prohibited. Law, dates and official source →

Native plant	Type	Hardiness	Light	Mature size	Soil texture	pH	Moisture use	Wet-soil tolerance	Drought tolerance	Sources
Inkberry Ilex glabra wet-soil tolerant VCE rain-garden list	shrub	zones 4–11	full sun to part shade	5 ft - 10 ft tall	sand, loam, clay	4.5–7.0	High	High	Low	NC State Ext.; USDA PLANTS
Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum VCE rain-garden list	shrub	zones 2–8	full sun to part shade	5 ft - 10 ft tall	—	—	—	—	—	NC State Ext.; not in USDA PLANTS characteristics
Winterberry Ilex verticillata VCE rain-garden list	shrub	zones 3–9	full-shade	3 ft - 15 ft tall	loam, clay	4.5–7.5	High	Low	Low	NC State Ext.; USDA PLANTS
Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius	shrub	zones 2–8	full sun to part shade	5 ft - 8 ft tall	sand, loam, clay	4.5–6.5	Low	None	High	NC State Ext.; USDA PLANTS
Sweet pepperbush Clethra alnifolia wet-soil tolerant VCE rain-garden list	shrub	zones 3–9	full sun to part shade	5 ft - 10 ft tall	sand, loam	4.5–7.0	High	Medium	Low	NC State Ext.; USDA PLANTS
Evergreen bayberry Morella caroliniensis wet-soil tolerant	shrub	zones 6–9	full sun to part shade	—	sand, loam, clay	4.5–7.0	Medium	High	Low	unverified estimate; USDA PLANTS

Soil texture, pH range, moisture use, wet-soil (anaerobic) and drought tolerance: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database characteristics (retrieved 2026-10-14); “sand/loam/clay” = adapted to coarse/medium/fine-textured soils. Rain-garden tag: listed in VCE Rain Garden Plants (Virginia; genus-level entries count).

Your soil, water and flood risk

Soil type: look up your yard in the official USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (texture, drainage class, flooding/ponding frequency).
Flood zone: check the official FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
Soil test: before amending, get a lab soil test through your state Extension (e.g. Virginia Cooperative Extension Gardener Handbook, ch. 2: sample 10+ spots to 6 inches; test every 3–4 years).
Raised beds / amendments: University of Maryland Extension recommends filling raised beds with compost and topsoil at 1:2 or 1:1 (or compost and soilless mix 1:1) and a pH of 6.2–6.8 for most garden plants (UMD: Soil to Fill Raised Beds). Extension guidance warns against adding sand alone to clay; work in organic matter instead.

Rainfall: Maryland averaged 45.2 inches of precipitation per year, 1991–2020 (mean of annual statewide totals, NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance). See wet yard & rain garden guide.

Nativity: USDA NRCS PLANTS state distribution (retrieved 2026-10-14); "native to the state" does not mean native to every county or habitat. Hardiness, light and size: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox where linked, otherwise our unverified estimate. Check your site, ZIP zone and local nursery stock; ask your county Extension office or state native plant society.

Other states

All states for Border privet

Checked 2026-10-14. Informational only, not legal or professional advice.