Winter Parking Restrictions

Invasive Terrestrial Plants (Noxious Weeds)

Terrestrial Invasive Species

Invasive terrestrial plants can disrupt native landscapes like prairies, wetlands, and forests. They also negatively impact agriculture economies and can be harmful to our health. Learn more about the invasive plants that are threatening Minnesota and what you can do to help by visiting the resources on this page.

Why should I care about invasive plants?
Invasive plants damage the natural heritage of our wetlands, prairies, forests, lakes, and rivers by harming Minnesota's native plants and animals. Invasive plants, if left unchecked, limit how we can use public land now and for future generations. Some examples of invasive plant impacts on public land are:

  • Limiting tree seedling establishment and regeneration of forests.
  • Reducing native plants and the wildlife that depend on them for food and cover.
  • Changing ecosystem processes such as promoting fires, changing nutrient availability in the soil, or increasing erosion.
  • Reducing the availability of forage for grazing animals.

Invasive plants can also decrease your ability to enjoy hunting, fishing, mushroom collecting, bird watching, and other recreational pursuits by:

  • Forming dense thickets or tangles that are difficult to walk through.
  • Reducing native plants and the wildlife that depend on them for food and cover.
  • Forming single-species stands that displace native wildflowers.
  • Producing sap or spines that can irritate human skin or are toxic to horses.

What is an invasive plant?
An invasive plant in Minnesota is a plant that is not native to Minnesota and causes economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Not all non-native species are invasive. You can refer to the list of definitions below to help sort out terms you may hear.

  • Invasive species (Minnesota Statute 84D.01): a non-native species that: (1) causes or may cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health; or (2) threatens or may threaten natural resources or the use of natural resources in the state.
  • Native species: a species naturally present within Minnesota or that expands from its historic range into this state without human intervention.
  • Non-native species: a species that is not native to Minnesota, but was brought by human movement or activity to Minnesota. An "introduced species" is a similar term that refers to a species brought intentionally or accidentally to Minnesota.
  • Weed: a plant that is growing in a place where a person does not want it to be. A weed could be a native or non-native species. For example, poison ivy is native to Minnesota, but if it is growing in your garden you are likely to consider it a weed. If it is growing in a state forest, it is generally not a concern. A "nuisance species" is a similar term that could refer to a native or non-native species.
  • Noxious Weed: a plant regulated as a Prohibited or Restricted Noxious Weed under the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's noxious weed law. Noxious Weeds and Specially Regulated Plants have specific legal restrictions and requirements under this law.
  • Prohibited and Regulated invasive species: wild animal and aquatic invasive species regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
  • Naturalized species: A non-native species that can survive and reproduce in an area where it is not native. While the term sounds similar to "native species", a "naturalized species" is still a non-native species. "Established" is a similar term that also means the species has a self-sustaining and reproducing population.

How can I prevent the spread of invasive plants?
Preventing the introduction and spread of invasive plants is the best way to stop invasive plants. Human actions allow plants to travel great distances much faster than on their own. By following these simple steps, you can help prevent the spread of invasive plants in Minnesota:

  1. Plant native species or species that are not invasive. Before buying or planting new plants, check the list in the "How do I learn more about invasive plants?" section to ensure the plant is not invasive. The webpages for each plant on this page includes a native substitutes list to give you ideas for alternative plantings. The Landscaping with Native Plants to Ward Off Invasives & Benefit Wildlife: A Homeowner’s Guide (PDF) (Midwest Invasive Plant Network and the US Forest Service) has more information on planting native species.
  2. When recreating, always arrive and leave with footwear and gear clean of mud, seeds, and vegetation. Learn more ways to prevent spreading invasive plants when recreating by using the DNR's guide to preventing invasive plants while recreating and visiting PlayCleanGo.org.
  3. Stay on designated roads and trails, going off trail increases the chance of spreading invasive plants to sensitive areas.
  4. If using forage or mulch, try to use weed-free certified supplies in your projects.

How do I control and dispose of invasive plants?
The individual species pages in the "How do I learn more about invasive plants?" section above contain specific management recommendations for those species. Listed below are additional management resources that cover many invasive plant species.

Management recommendations

Plant disposal recommendations

Sourced from MN Department of Natural Resources & the University of Minnesota

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