Six new weeds have been added to Minnesota’s Noxious Weed List.

The list, maintained by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, places weeds into four categories: Prohibited Eradicate, Prohibited Control, Restricted and Specially Regulated, and defines how the weeds must be controlled.

The six new species added to the list are:

Three weeds on the list also changed categories. Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) and giant knotweed (P. sachalinense) were moved from Specially Regulated to Prohibited Control. Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) was moved from Restricted to Prohibited Eradicate.

As the lead agency for noxious weed regulation, MDA, with recommendations from the Noxious Weed Advisory Committee, updates the state’s Noxious Weed List every three years. Plants are placed on the Noxious Weed List because they may be harmful to public health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock or other property. There are restrictions on the weed’s sale, transport, growth or spread.

Prohibited Eradicate species are considered a serious threat and are the state’s highest priority noxious weeds. These species must have all above- and below-ground parts of the plant destroyed.

Prohibited Control weeds are found in higher populations than those on the Eradicate species list, and they must be stopped before the weeds mature and spread through seeds, cuttings, and other plant parts.

Restricted noxious weeds are widely found throughout Minnesota. Landowners with Restricted weeds on their property are encouraged to manage these species but cannot be forced to do so under the Noxious Weed Law.

Specially Regulated plants are native or have the potential to cause harm in non-managed landscapes. These weeds have specific management plans developed by MDA, and measures must be taken to minimize their potential harm.

Go online to view the updated Noxious Weed List and to learn more about the category definitions.

Source: Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.