Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List - Updates

Changes to the list, information on pending decisions, etc.

Date	Item
December 2025	The following invasive plants have been added to the Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List. As of December 8, 2025, no new stock may be imported or propagated from these species. Existing stock may continue to be sold during the phase-out period listed below. For more information, please see this document. Alnus glutinosa (black alder, European alder): Phase-out period December 8, 2025 - December 31, 2028 Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese silvergrass, Eulalia, maiden grass): Phase-out period December 8, 2025 - December 31, 2026 Rhodotypos scandens (jetbead, white Kerria, jetberry bush): Phase-out period December 8, 2025 - December 31, 2027
October 2025	Notice of Public Hearing: NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, the hearing scheduled for July 25 has been rescheduled to October 1. MDAR will hold a public hearing in Fall of 2025 to hear testimony from the public regarding the intent to add the following species to the Prohibited Plant List: Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) Chinese Silvergrass, Eulalia (Miscanthus sinensis) Jetbead (Rhodotypos scandens)
January 2025	As of January 1, 2025, Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) can no longer be sold in Massachusetts. The phase-out period put into place to allow growers to sell off existing stock ended December 31, 2024, and the ban on importing Scotch broom into the state went into effect on December 31, 2022.
September 2024	The following invasive plants have been added to the Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List. For more information, including the phase-out period for existing stock, please see this document. Callery pear/Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) Wall-lettuce (Mycelis muralis)
April 2024	Notice of Public Hearing: MDAR will hold a public hearing on April 26, 2024 to hear testimony from the public regarding the intent to add the following species to the Prohibited Plant List: •    Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) •    Callery/Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana)
August 2023	Notice of Public Hearing: MDAR will hold a public hearing on August 22, 2023 to hear testimony from the public regarding the intent to add the following species to the Prohibited Plant List: Callery pear/Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) Wall-lettuce (Mycelis muralis)
November 2022	The following invasive plants have been added to the Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List. For more information, including the phase-out period for existing stock, please see this document. Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) Weeping Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula)
August 2017	MDAR has made the decision to not add Actinidia arguta (Hardy Kiwi) to the Prohibited Plant List at this time. For more information, please see this document
February 2017	The following invasive plants were added to the Prohibited Plant List. For more information, please see this document. Butomus umbellatus (Flowering rush) Salix atrocinerea/Salix cinerea (Large gray willow, Rusty willow)

Last updated:	December 8, 2025