PlantLegitArkansas: invasive & noxious plant laws
New laws coming: several states phase in plant bans 2027–2030. See dates and sources →
The Arkansas State Plant Board's rule 2 CAR part 50 (rev. March 2026) declares a list of noxious weeds to be a public nuisance under the Arkansas Plant Act; nursery stock sold in the state must be reasonably free of them, but most are common farm weeds and are not banned from sale. Separately, the rule's Prohibited Plant List bars selling or planting purple loosestrife, giant salvinia, water hyacinth and Japanese blood grass, and § 50-709 bans selling, transporting or planting any Lythrum species.
Official sources
- 2 CAR part 50 Rules on Plant Diseases and Pests (Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research, PDF)
- 2 CAR § 50-302 Sale of nursery stock (Code of Arkansas Rules)
- Federal Noxious Weed List, 7 CFR § 360.200 (USDA APHIS) — applies in every state
Prohibited plant (2 Code Ark. R. § 50-101(f)) — no plant, seed or reproductive part may be sold or planted in Arkansas (5)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Lythrum salicaria | purple loosestrife |
| Salvinia molesta | giant salvinia |
| Eichhornia crassipes | water hyacinth |
| Eichhornia azurea | anchored water hyacinth |
| Imperata cylindrica | Japanese blood grass, cogongrass (includes ornamental red forms) |
Lythrum, all species and hybrids (2 Code Ark. R. § 50-709) — no transporting, buying, selling or distributing; no planting (1)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Lythrum spp. | all Lythrum species and hybrids, including native ones |
Public-nuisance noxious weed (2 Code Ark. R. § 50-101(d)) — nursery stock must be free of it; State Plant Board can order control — not a sale ban (33)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Convolvulus arvensis | field bindweed |
| Cyperus rotundus | nut grass |
| Allium spp. | wild onion, wild garlic (includes native onions) |
| Sorghum halepense | Johnson grass |
| Cuscuta spp. | dodder |
| Cynodon dactylon | Bermudagrass |
| Bromus secalinus | cheat, chess |
| Bromus commutatus | cheat |
| Lolium temulentum | darnel |
| Agrostemma githago | corncockle |
| Solanum carolinense | horsenettle |
| Solanum elaeagnifolium | purple nightshade |
| Plantago lanceolata | buckhorn plantain |
| Plantago aristata | bracted plantain |
| Rumex spp. | docks |
| Helianthus ciliaris | blueweed |
| Ipomoea spp. | morning glory |
| Calystegia sepium | hedge bindweed |
| Oryza sativa | red rice |
| Aeschynomene indica | curly indigo |
| Sesbania exaltata | tall indigo, coffee bean |
| Setaria faberi | giant foxtail |
| Striga spp. | witchweed |
| Crotalaria spp. | crotalaria |
| Xanthium spp. | cocklebur |
| Calonyction muricatum | moonflower |
| Alternanthera spp. | alligatorweed |
| Cardiospermum halicacabum | balloonvine |
| Rottboellia exaltata | itchgrass |
| Carduus spp., Cirsium spp., Onopordum spp., Silybum spp., Scolymus spp., Salsola spp. | thistles "and other genera" |
| Nassella trichotoma | serrated tussock |
| Echinochloa crus-galli | barnyard grass |
| Solanum viarum | tropical soda apple |
Check plants against Arkansas law →
Informational only, not legal advice. Lists change; always check the official source linked above before you buy, sell, plant or move a plant. Lists checked 2026-10-14.