PlantLegitMaine: invasive & noxious plant laws
Maine's rule 01-001 CMR chapter 273 (Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry) makes it illegal to import, export, buy, sell, or intentionally propagate for sale or distribution any living part of a plant on the Do Not Sell list, including all cultivars, varieties and hybrids. The list grew from 33 to 63 species on January 1, 2024, when Rosa rugosa was also made a species of special concern that must carry a sign or tag at the point of sale. Separately, 38 M.R.S. § 410-N names 15 invasive aquatic plants (amended 2023), and § 419-C bans selling them (and selling native Myriophyllum species) and possessing, importing, cultivating, transporting or distributing them in any way that could let them reach state waters.
Official sources
- Maine DACF — Do Not Sell invasive plant list
- 01-001 CMR ch. 273 § III (LII)
- Maine DACF handout (PDF, 2024)
- 38 M.R.S. § 410-N invasive aquatic plants (Maine Legislature)
- 38 M.R.S. § 419-C prohibitions
- Maine DEP — invasive aquatic plants
- Federal Noxious Weed List, 7 CFR § 360.200 (USDA APHIS) — applies in every state
Do Not Sell list (01-001 CMR ch. 273) — no import, export, buying, selling or propagating for sale; includes all cultivars, varieties and hybrids (63)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Acer ginnala | Amur maple |
| Acer platanoides | Norway maple |
| Aegopodium podagraria | bishop's weed |
| Ailanthus altissima | tree of heaven |
| Alliaria petiolata | garlic mustard |
| Amorpha fruticosa | false indigo (a U.S. native) |
| Ampelopsis glandulosa | porcelainberry |
| Artemisia vulgaris | common mugwort |
| Berberis thunbergii | Japanese barberry |
| Berberis vulgaris | common barberry |
| Celastrus orbiculatus | Asiatic bittersweet |
| Elaeagnus umbellata | autumn olive |
| Euonymus alatus | winged euonymus |
| Euphorbia cyparissias | cypress spurge |
| Fallopia baldschuanica | Chinese bindweed |
| Fallopia japonica | Japanese knotweed |
| Frangula alnus | glossy buckthorn |
| Hesperis matronalis | dame's rocket |
| Impatiens glandulifera | ornamental jewelweed |
| Iris pseudacorus | yellow iris |
| Ligustrum vulgare | common privet |
| Lonicera japonica | Japanese honeysuckle |
| Lonicera maackii | Amur honeysuckle |
| Lonicera morrowii | Morrow's honeysuckle |
| Lonicera tatarica | Tatarian honeysuckle |
| Lythrum salicaria | purple loosestrife |
| Microstegium vimineum | stilt grass |
| Paulownia tomentosa | paulownia |
| Persicaria perfoliata | mile-a-minute weed |
| Phellodendron amurense | Amur cork tree |
| Populus alba | white cottonwood |
| Robinia pseudoacacia | black locust (a U.S. native) |
| Rosa multiflora | multiflora rose |
| Alnus glutinosa | European alder (from Jan 1, 2024) |
| Angelica sylvestris | woodland angelica (2024) |
| Anthriscus sylvestris | wild chervil (2024) |
| Aralia elata | Japanese angelica tree (2024) |
| Butomus umbellatus | flowering rush (2024) |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia | Russian olive (2024) |
| Euonymus fortunei | wintercreeper (2024) |
| Festuca filiformis | fine-leaved sheep fescue (2024) |
| Ficaria verna | lesser celandine (2024) |
| Glaucium flavum | yellow hornpoppy (2024) |
| Glechoma hederacea | ground ivy, creeping Charlie (2024) |
| Glyceria maxima | reed mannagrass (2024) |
| Hippophae rhamnoides | sea buckthorn (2024) |
| Ligustrum obtusifolium | border privet (2024) |
| Lonicera xylosteum | dwarf honeysuckle (2024) |
| Lythrum virgatum | European wand loosestrife (2024) |
| Miscanthus sacchariflorus | Amur silvergrass (2024) |
| Petasites japonicus | fuki, giant butterbur (2024) |
| Phalaris arundinacea | reed canary grass, variegated ribbon grass (2024) |
| Photinia villosa | photinia (2024) |
| Phragmites australis | common reed (2024) |
| Phyllostachys aurea | golden bamboo (2024) |
| Phyllostachys aureosulcata | yellow groove bamboo (2024) |
| Pyrus calleryana | Callery (Bradford) pear (2024) |
| Ranunculus repens | creeping buttercup (2024) |
| Rubus phoenicolasius | wineberry (2024) |
| Silphium perfoliatum | cup plant (a U.S. native; 2024) |
| Sorbus aucuparia | European mountain-ash (2024) |
| Tussilago farfara | coltsfoot (2024) |
| Valeriana officinalis | common valerian (2024) |
Invasive plant of special concern (ch. 273 § VIII) — may be sold only with a sign or tag (1)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Rosa rugosa | rugosa rose, beach rose |
Invasive aquatic plant (38 M.R.S. § 410-N) — no selling; no possessing, importing, cultivating, transporting or distributing in a way that could reach state waters (§ 419-C) (16)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Myriophyllum spp. (all species not native to Maine) | non-native water-milfoils |
| Myriophyllum heterophyllum | variable-leaf water-milfoil |
| Myriophyllum spicatum | Eurasian water-milfoil |
| Myriophyllum aquaticum | parrot feather |
| Trapa spp. | water chestnuts |
| Hydrilla verticillata | hydrilla |
| Cabomba spp. | fanworts (includes C. caroliniana, a U.S. native) |
| Potamogeton crispus | curly pondweed |
| Najas minor | European naiad |
| Egeria densa | Brazilian elodea |
| Hydrocharis morsus-ranae | frogbit |
| Nymphoides peltata | yellow floating heart |
| Stratiotes aloides | water soldier |
| Salvinia molesta | giant salvinia |
| Utricularia inflata | swollen bladderwort (a U.S. native) |
| Nitellopsis obtusa | starry stonewort (an alga) |
Check plants against Maine 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.