Governor Mikie Sherrill • Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell

Department of Agriculture

Invasive Species

Overview

Overview

On January 8th, 2026, the State of New Jersey passed the "Invasive Species Management Act" prohibiting the sale, distribution, import, export, and propagation of certain invasive plant species.  This bill also establishes the New Jersey Invasive Species Council which will advise state authorities on invasive species management.  View the current list of prohibited invasive species below.

What you need to know:

  • Beginning January 1, 2027, the propagation of any plant on this list is strictly prohibited without a written conditional use permit issued by the NJDEP.

  • Beginning January 1, 2030, the sale, distribution and/or export of any plant on this list is strictly prohibited without a written conditional use permit issued by the NJDEP.

Contact NJDEP regarding the issuance of a conditional use permit.

Regulations

N.J.A.C. 2:19.3 Sale & Distribution of Plant and Plant Material - Subchapter 3:  Invasive Plant Species (Coming Soon).

Prohibited Invasive Plants

No. Common Name Genus Species Subspecies
1 Norway maple Acer platanoides
2 Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima
3 Mimosa (Silk) tree Albizia julibrissin
4 Porcelain berry Ampelopsis glandulosa brevipedunculatasubspecies
5 Japanese angelica tree Aralia elata
6 Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii
7 Japanese clematis Clematis terniflora
8 Autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata
9 Weeping lovegrass Eragrostis curvula
10 Winged burning bush Euonymus alatus
11 English Ivy Hedera helix
12 Japanese hop Humulus japonicas
13 European privet Ligustrum vulgare
14 Amur honeysuckle Lonicera maackii
15 Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii
16 Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
17 Japanese crabapple Malus toringo
18 Chinese silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis
19 Eurasian water-milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum
20 Oriental photinia Photinia villosa
21 Callery (Bradford) pear Pyrus calleryana
22 Common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
23 Jetbead Rhodotypos scandens
24 Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora
25 European water chestnut Trapa natans
26 Siebold's arrowwood Viburnum sieboldii
27 Japanese wisteria Wisteria floribunda
28 Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis
29 Sericea lespedeza Lespedeza cuneate
30 Running bamboo Phyllostachys species

The following cultivars and varieties of invasive plant species are exempt from the prohibitions and waiver requirements but when sold, offered for sale, distributed, imported, exported or otherwise propagated for sale or distribution shall be labelled and accompanied with the educational materials developed by the Invasive Species Council:

No. Common Name Genus Species Subspecies
1 Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii Aurea
2 Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii UCONNBTCP4N
3 Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii UCONNBTB113
4 Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii UCONNBTB048
5 Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii UCONNBTB039
6 Chinese silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis NCMS1
7 Chinese silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis Tift M77

NJ Invasive Species Council

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The NJ Invasive Species Council consists of the following (19) members:
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  • The Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee
  • The Secretary of Agriculture or the secretary's designee
  • The State Treasurer or the treasurer's designee
  • The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee
  • The Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee
  • The State Forester
  • Two (2) representatives from environmental organizations
  • Two (2) representatives from the food agricultural sector
  • Two (2) representatives from the landscape industry
  • Two (2) representatives from the nursery industry
  • Two (2) representatives of New Jersey higher education
  • One (1) representative from a county park system
  • One (1) representative involved in urban ecosystems
  • One (1) member of the general public with knowledge or experience of invasive species.

Alternatives

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Rutgers University Cooperative Extension:

Additional Laws & Regulations

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Controlling Invasive Species

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Contacts

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For further information please contact:  Ryan Rieder, Chief - Bureau of Plant Pest & Disease Control

Additional Links