Arizona: invasive & noxious plant laws
New laws coming: several states phase in plant bans 2027–2030. See dates and sources →
Arizona Department of Agriculture rule A.A.C. R3-4-245 lists Class A, B and C noxious weeds (tables last amended eff. February 4, 2024). No listed noxious weed, or commodity infested with one, may be brought into Arizona unless authorized by the Associate Director, and the Department may quarantine and abate Class A and B infestations.
Official sources
- A.A.C. R3-4-245 Noxious Weeds
- Table 4 Class A
- Table 5 Class B
- Table 6 Class C
- Arizona Dept. of Agriculture — Noxious Weeds
- Federal Noxious Weed List, 7 CFR § 360.200 (USDA APHIS) — applies in every state
Class A noxious weed (A.A.C. R3-4-245, Table 4) (19)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Peganum harmala | African rue |
| Cirsium arvense | Canada thistle |
| Cucumis melo v. Dudaim Naudin | Dudaim melon |
| Isatis tinctoria | Dyer's woad |
| Eichhornia crassipes | Floating water hyacinth |
| Salvinia molesta | Giant salvinia |
| Lepidium (Cardaria) draba | Globe-podded hoary cress |
| Hydrilla verticillata | Hydrilla |
| Euphorbia esula | Leafy spurge |
| Carduus acanthoides | Plumeless thistle |
| Lythrum salicaria | Purple loosestrife |
| Centaurea calcitrapa | Purple starthistle |
| Elymus repens (Elytrigia repens) | Quackgrass |
| Chondrilla juncea | Rush skeletonweed |
| Cenchrus echinatus | Southern sandbur |
| Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos | Spotted knapweed |
| Euryops subcarnosus | Sweet resinbush |
| Carrichtera annua | Ward's weed |
| Sinapis arvensis | Wild mustard |
Class B noxious weed (Table 5) (24)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Searsia lancea | African sumac |
| Brassica nigra | Black mustard |
| Orobanche ramosa | Branched broomrape |
| Cirsium vulgare | Bull thistle |
| Alhagi maurorum (A. pseudalhagi) | Camelthorn |
| Linaria dalmatica (L genistifolia v. dalmatica) | Dalmatian toadflax |
| Centaurea diffusa | Diffuse knapweed |
| Cenchrus spinifex (synonym: C. incertus) | Field sandbur |
| Arundo donax | Giant reed |
| Halogeton glomeratus | Halogeton |
| Aegilops cylindrica | Jointed goatgrass |
| Centaurea melitensis | Malta starthistle |
| Carduus nutans | Musk thistle |
| Melinis repens | Natal grass |
| Asphodelus fistulosus | Onionweed |
| Bromus diandrus | Ripgut brome |
| Acroptilon repens | Russian knapweed |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia | Russian olive |
| Brassica tournefortii | Saharan mustard |
| Ulmus pumila | Siberian elm |
| Oncosiphon pilulifer (O. piluliferum) | Stinknet (Globe chamomile) |
| Onopordum acanthium | Scotch thistle |
| Bothriochloa ischaemum | Yellow bluestem |
| Centaurea solstitialis | Yellow starthistle |
Class C noxious weed (Table 6) (17)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Cenchrus ciliaris (Pennisetum ciliare) | Buffelgrass |
| Bromus tectorum | Cheatgrass |
| Convolvulus arvensis | Field bindweed |
| Pennisetum setaceum | Fountain grass |
| Ipomoea purpurea | Garden or common morning glory |
| Ipomoea tricolor | Grannyvine |
| Ipomoea hederacea | Ivy-leaf morning glory |
| Sorghum halepense | Johnsongrass |
| Kochia scoparia | Kochia |
| Eragrostis lehmanniana | Lehman's lovegrass |
| Ipomoea triloba | Morning glory |
| Ipomoea x leucantha | Morning glory |
| Tribulus terrestris | Puncturevine |
| Bromus rubens | Red brome |
| Tamarix spp. | Salt cedar |
| Ulmus pumila | Siberian elm |
| Ailanthus altissima | Tree of heaven |
Check plants against Arizona 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.