10 Surprisingly Illegal Plants You Shouldn’t Grow in Your U.S. Backyard

Some plants can destroy local environments, but growing plants in your backyard can make your home look nice and feel calm. In the United States, it is illegal to grow some invasive plant types because they hurt local plants and animals. People and animals can get sick from these plants, and they can take over wild areas and damage infrastructure.

From the quickly growing kudzu to the poisonous giant hogweed, it’s important to know which plants you can’t grow to stay out of trouble with the law and protect the environment. This blog post will talk about 10 common plants that you can’t grow in your backyard. We’ll also talk about the dangers they pose and why you should keep them out of your garden.

1. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

People in the U.S. think that Japanese knotweed is one of the most invasive plant types. Because it is so active, it is against the law in many places to grow. It can get up to 10 feet tall and has thick roots that look like bamboo. It grows quickly through underground stems called rhizomes, which makes it hard to get rid of once it’s in a place.

Because its roots grow so deep and so fast, the plant can damage buildings, roads, and flood walls. It also hurts native plants by blocking sunshine and taking away nutrients from the soil. Because of these harmful traits, local governments usually tell people they need to get rid of the plant and may fine them if they don’t. Many places consider Japanese knotweed to be a controlled plant species, so people are told not to plant it.

2. Kudzu (Pueraria montana)

Kudzu, also called “the vine that ate the South,” is a fast-growing, invasive plant that was brought to the U.S. from Japan to help stop soil erosion. Things quickly went wrong, though, because it could grow up to a foot a day if the conditions were right. Kudzu can grow on trees, buildings, and other plants, blocking out other plants and killing local ones.

The roots are very strong, and they can even hurt things like power lines and fences. Many states have made it illegal to grow or plant kudzu in private areas because it can get too big and mess up ecosystems. Homeowners must be careful to get rid of it quickly to stop it from spreading.

3. Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Purple loosestrife is a pretty plant with bright purple flowers, but it spreads very quickly, especially in swampy areas. It was brought to the U.S. in the 1800s as a decorative plant, but it has since spread across most of the country, pushing out native plants and lowering biodiversity.

It can quickly take over whole environments, especially marshes, because its stems are long and dense, and it makes a lot of seeds. Many animal species depend on natural plants for food and protection, but purple loosestrife can make them hard to see. Because of this, this plant is not allowed to grow in some areas, and anyone caught trying to do so can be fined. The plant also throws off the natural balance of wetland areas, so environmentalists want to get rid of it and make sure it follows the rules.

4. Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

Giant hogweed is not only against the law to grow because it spreads so quickly, but it is also very bad for your health. This flowering plant can get up to 15 feet tall and has lots of big white flowers. When exposed to sunlight, giant hogweed sap includes dangerous chemicals that can burn your skin badly, make you blind, and leave lasting scars.

A lot of states have laws against the plant because it grows quickly and could hurt people. It quickly spreads through its seeds, which can go a long way. Because of this, local governments require people to report seeing giant hogweed and may fine people who grow it or don’t get rid of it. It is not only dangerous to have it in private gardens, but it is also bad for natural ecosystems.

5. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Many parks in the U.S. have English ivy as an attractive plant, but if you don’t control it, it can quickly spread and take over. Even though it’s not against the law everywhere, it is controlled in some places because it can spread quickly and hurt trees, buildings, and other plants.

The plant grows on walls and trees, and its thick leaves can block sunlight, which stops trees from photosynthesizing properly. It can weaken or even kill trees over time by removing their bark and stopping their growth. The Pacific Northwest and other places where English ivy has grown quickly are especially troublesome for it. In places where it has spread, local governments may ask homes to get rid of it to stop more damage to the environment.

6. Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

Autumn olive was first brought to the U.S. to help stop runoff and look nice, but it quickly became an invasive species that caused problems. The plant has small, fragrant flowers and silvery-green leaves, but it grows quickly because birds eat the berries and spread the seeds over long distances.

Autumn olive can quickly beat out native plants, especially in places that have been changed, like farms and woods. It also changes the earth by fixing nitrogen, which can make it impossible for other species to live there. Because of this, growing autumn olive is against the law in some parts of the U.S., and steps are being taken to stop its spread and get rid of current populations.

7. Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.)

Saltcedar, which is sometimes called tamarisk, is an invasive plant that can’t be grown in some U.S. states. It was brought to the western U.S. from Eurasia as an ornamental plant and to stop soil erosion, but now it is a big threat to marshes, riparian zones, and water systems. Saltcedar can use up a lot of water, which can make rivers and lakes not run naturally.

Native plants can’t grow well where it grows because its roots are so thick and add salt to the soil. When saltcedar takes over an area, it changes the environment in a big way, which affects both wildlife sites and farmland. Controlling the spread of this invasive plant is very important, and many states have rules that make it illegal for it to grow in home fields.

8. Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

The yellow-flowering bush Scotch broom was brought to the U.S. from Europe as a decorative plant and to stop soil erosion. But since then, it’s spread too far, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Scotch broom spreads quickly and makes thickets that are impossible to get through.

This makes room for fewer native plants and less variety. The plant also changes the chemistry of the soil by adding more nitrogen, which can make it harder for local plants to grow. Scotch broom is controlled in several states because it is dangerous and hurts the environment. People who own their own homes are often forced to get rid of them so that they don’t spread and hurt local environments.

9. Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

It is against the law to grow water hyacinth in many parts of the U.S. because it can spread to other water systems and make them less healthy. This plant has pretty purple flowers, but it can grow in thick mats on the surface of lakes, rivers, and ponds, hiding sunshine and lowering the amount of oxygen in the water.

Because of this, it drowns marine life and throws off the natural balance of freshwater environments. The water hyacinth grows quickly from both seeds and stems, which makes it hard to control once it starts to spread. It is illegal in some states because it pollutes waterways, and there are rules in place to stop its spread and growth.

10. Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus)

Burmese pythons are banned in some parts of the U.S., so even though they are not plants, they have been talked about as invasive species. These snakes have become a major threat to wildlife in the area, especially in Florida. Most likely they were brought into the Everglades as pets, but because they do so well in the wild, they have become a major pest in the ecosystems there.

In Florida, Burmese pythons don’t have any natural enemies, so they eat a lot of different animals, such as birds, mammals, and snakes. As their numbers grow, they become a major danger to the area’s ecology. To stop more damage to the environment, work is being done to get rid of and control these snakes.

Bottom Line:

It’s important to know about alien species that could be bad for the environment and maybe even illegal to grow if you want to improve your yard. Always pick plants that are good for the environment and wildlife in your area.

To make sure you follow state rules, keep your garden healthy, and stop the spread of alien species, don’t put the plants on this list. You can make your backyard look great and last for a long time without hurting the environment by researching and choosing non-invasive options.

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