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Georgia
Is giant hogweed banned in Georgia?
Yes. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is on the Georgia list “Designation of noxious weeds (Federal Noxious Weed List)”, group “Terrestrial weeds”. Listed plants may not be sold or distributed in Georgia (Live Plant Regulations, Rule 40-4-9-.11(b)).
Photo: White sand bank and willows along the Little River in Lowndes County. Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How Georgia law lists giant hogweed
The listing behind the answer above, copied from the official source.
| Plant as printed | Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed) |
| List | Designation of noxious weeds (Federal Noxious Weed List) |
| Agency | USDA APHIS |
| Citation | 7 CFR 360.200; made enforceable for plant sales in Georgia by Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-4-9-.11(b) and incorporated in seed law by 40-12-4-.01(d) |
| Class | Terrestrial weeds |
| Rule date | November 10, 2010 |
| Effect of the listing | Federal noxious weeds (7 CFR 360) may not be moved interstate or imported without a federal permit. In Georgia, the Live Plant Regulations make it an unlawful act to sell or distribute any plant listed on the Federal Noxious Weed list (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-4-9-.11(b); 40-4-9-.01(h) defines Federal Noxious Weed as "Any plant listed under Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 360"), and the Georgia seed rule forbids their seed or propagules being intermixed with seed for sale (40-12-4-.01(d)). The CFR note says a scientific name "is intended to include all subordinate taxa within the taxon". |
Text recorded from the official rule, read November 12, 2026. Scientific names are copied as printed.
Giant hogweed bans by state
| State | Giant Hogweed banned from sale? | List |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | No | Named only on the federal noxious weed list |
| Georgia | Yes | 7 CFR 360.200, Terrestrial weeds |
| North Carolina | Yes | 7 CFR 360.200, Terrestrial weeds |
| Texas | No | Not on any official list read |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | 3 Pa.C.S. Ch. 15, Class A Noxious Weed |
| Ohio | Yes | Ohio Adm. Code 901:5-30-01 |
States on this site. Each answer comes from that state's official lists; follow the link for the details.
More plants checked against Georgia lists
The complete Georgia lists and what each rule allows are on the invasive plants page for Georgia.
Common questions: giant hogweed in Georgia
Is giant hogweed banned in Georgia?
Yes. Giant hogweed is on the 7 CFR 360.200 list in Georgia, and listed plants may not be sold or distributed in Georgia (Live Plant Regulations, Rule 40-4-9-.11(b)).
Since when is giant hogweed banned in Georgia?
November 10, 2010 is the date printed or in force for 7 CFR 360.200.
Which agency bans giant hogweed in Georgia?
USDA APHIS, under 7 CFR 360.200; made enforceable for plant sales in Georgia by Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-4-9-.11(b) and incorporated in seed law by 40-12-4-.01(d).
What is giant hogweed called on the Georgia list?
Georgia lists print it as Heracleum mantegazzianum.
Is giant hogweed banned in neighboring states?
North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio list it as banned from sale; the table above shows each state.
Who can identify giant hogweed for me in Georgia?
Ask the UGA Cooperative Extension office for your county. Contact details are on every Georgia county page here.
Where this answer comes from
Designation of noxious weeds (Federal Noxious Weed List), USDA APHIS. 7 CFR 360.200; made enforceable for plant sales in Georgia by Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-4-9-.11(b) and incorporated in seed law by 40-12-4-.01(d). Date shown: November 10, 2010. Read November 12, 2026.
Lists change; check the agency page before buying or selling plants. More for Georgia: Georgia gardening, what to plant now and the planting zone map.
Photos: White sand bank and willows along the Little River in Lowndes County: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; The Little Tallapoosa River winding through green spring woods in Carroll County: John Phelan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Sun setting over Hartwell Lake through the pines at Tugaloo State Park: Mike Finn, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr; Morning fog filling valleys below autumn ridges seen from Brasstown Bald: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.