PlantLegitTennessee: invasive & noxious plant laws
Tennessee Department of Agriculture rule 0080-06-24-.02 designates pest plants that 'shall not be propagated, sold, offered for sale, or released within the state', except as provided in Rule 0080-06-24-.03 (permits). Several entries carried phase-in dates for retail and wholesale sale (2010–2014), all now past. Text checked against the Tennessee Secretary of State's official copy of the chapter (filed January 28, 2009, effective April 13, 2009). Rule 0080-06-24-.03 lets the Commissioner permit propagation for research or propagation purposes under a compliance agreement, as long as the plants are not sold or released in Tennessee.
Official sources
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 0080-06-24 Pest Plant Regulations (Tennessee Secretary of State, PDF rev. April 2009)
- Tennessee SOS — Department of Agriculture rules index
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 Pest Plant List (LII)
- Federal Noxious Weed List, 7 CFR § 360.200 (USDA APHIS) — applies in every state
Pest plant (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02) — may not be propagated, sold, offered for sale or released (13)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Lythrum salicaria, Lythrum virgatum and related cultivars | purple loosestrife |
| Solanum viarum | tropical soda apple |
| Ligustrum sinense | Chinese privet (retail Jan 2010; wholesale Jan 2012) |
| Ligustrum vulgare | common/European privet (retail Jan 2010; wholesale Jan 2012) |
| Imperata cylindrica | cogongrass |
| Lonicera maackii | Amur honeysuckle (retail Jan 2010; wholesale Jan 2012) |
| Lonicera morrowii | Morrow's honeysuckle (retail Jan 2010; wholesale Jan 2012) |
| Lonicera x bella | Bell's honeysuckle (retail Jan 2010; wholesale Jan 2012) |
| Rosa multiflora | multiflora rose (retail Jan 2010; wholesale Jan 2012) |
| Elaeagnus umbellata | autumn olive (retail Jan 2010; wholesale Jan 2012) |
| Elaeagnus pungens | thorny olive (retail Jan 2012; wholesale Jan 2014) |
| Salvinia molesta | giant salvinia |
| Commelina benghalensis | tropical spiderwort |
Check plants against Tennessee 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.