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Tennessee Invasive Plants and Banned Plant List
14 plants on Tennessee's official list may not be sold here, including Chinese privet, European (common) privet, Amur bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife and autumn olive. Bradford (Callery) pear is not on any Tennessee ban list.
Photo: Cosby Creek running through hardwood forest in the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Is it banned in Tennessee? Common plants
These are plants people often ask about in Tennessee. "Yes" means an official Tennessee list bans selling it.
| Plant | Banned from sale in Tennessee? | List | What the list prints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford (Callery) pear | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Japanese barberry | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Burning bush | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| English ivy | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Chinese privet | Yes | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| European (common) privet | Yes | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Japanese honeysuckle | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Amur bush honeysuckle | Yes | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Kudzu | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Multiflora rose | Yes | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Purple loosestrife | Yes | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | printed as "Lythrum salicaria, Lythrum virgatum and related cultivars" |
| Autumn olive | Yes | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Russian olive | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Norway maple | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Mimosa (silk tree) | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Chinese wisteria | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Nandina | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Butterfly bush | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Tree of heaven | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Japanese knotweed | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Japanese stiltgrass | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Oriental bittersweet | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Mile-a-minute | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Chinese tallow | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Chinaberry | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Lantana | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Periwinkle (vinca) | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Japanese spiraea | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Giant hogweed | No | federal noxious weed list | |
| Cogongrass | Yes | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Listed plants may not be propagated, sold, offered for sale or released in Tennessee. |
| Water hyacinth | No | Not on any official Tennessee list | |
| Hydrilla | No | federal noxious weed list |
"No" means the plant is not on a ban list. It can still be on an advisory list that has no legal effect, which is shown in the List column.
Full list of plants banned from sale in Tennessee
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02: listed plants may not be propagated, sold, offered for sale or released in Tennessee.
| Scientific name | Common name | Class or list | Note printed with the entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commelina benghalensis | tropical spiderwort | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | |
| Elaeagnus pungens | thorny olive | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2012; Wholesale: January 2014 |
| Elaeagnus umbellata | autumn olive | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Imperata cylindrica | cogongrass | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | |
| Ligustrum sinense | Chinese privet | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Ligustrum vulgare | common privet, European privet | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Lonicera maackii | shrub honeysuckle, Amur honeysuckle | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Lonicera morrowii | Morrows bush honeysuckle, Morrow's honeysuckle | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Lonicera x bella | Bell's honeysuckle | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Lythrum salicaria | purple loosestrife | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | printed as "Lythrum salicaria, Lythrum virgatum and related cultivars" |
| Lythrum virgatum | purple loosestrife | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | printed as "Lythrum salicaria, Lythrum virgatum and related cultivars" |
| Rosa multiflora | multiflora rose | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012 |
| Salvinia molesta | giant salvinia | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 | |
| Solanum viarum | tropical soda apple | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 |
Scientific names are copied as printed in the rule, including spelling errors in the official text.
What the Tennessee rules say
Pest Plant List (Chapter 0080-06-24 Pest Plant Regulations)
Listed pest plants "shall not be propagated, sold, offered for sale, or released within the state" (0080-06-24-.02(1)); permits only for research/propagative purposes under a compliance agreement, safeguarded from sale or release (0080-06-24-.03). Some entries carry phased dates printed in the rule (Retail / Wholesale). Authority T.C.A. 43-6-104 and 43-6-106(9).
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industries (now Consumer and Industry Services), Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02. 14 entries; date printed or effective 2009-04-13.
Prohibited Noxious-Weed seed (Rule 0080-05-06-.07(1))
Seed law only: weed seeds "designated noxious in Tennessee" with a maximum permitted rate of occurrence per pound of agricultural or vegetable seed; prohibited kinds are allowed at "None per pound". Governs seed labeling/sale of seed lots; it is NOT a ban on growing or planting the plants themselves.
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-05-06-.07(1). 12 entries; date printed or effective 2018-10-29.
Restricted Noxious-Weed seed (Rule 0080-05-06-.07(2))
Seed law only: restricted noxious-weed seed is allowed up to the per-pound limit printed for each kind; agricultural seed containing "in excess of a sum total of 300 restricted noxious-weed seed per pound" is prohibited from sale in Tennessee (exceptions: crimson clover 100 Brassica spp./lb; Ky. 31 tall fescue 500 total). NOT a ban on growing or planting the plants.
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-05-06-.07(2). 15 entries; date printed or effective 2018-10-29.
Eradication of Johnson Grass (T.C.A. Title 43, Chapter 6, Part 2)
County-option law: in a county whose legislative body adopts the part, the commissioner declares a "Johnson grass extermination area" and landowners, utilities, road departments and others must control and eradicate Johnson grass on land they own or control and follow the commissioner's / county weed control board's orders (43-6-202, 43-6-207); infestation may be enjoined as a nuisance (43-6-208 title). Does not address sale or planting.
Tennessee General Assembly / Commissioner of Agriculture and county weed control boards, Tenn. Code Ann. 43-6-201 to 43-6-210. 1 entry.
Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200 Designation of noxious weeds)
Federal: "No person may move a Federal noxious weed into or through the United States, or interstate" without a USDA permit (7 CFR 360.300). A scientific name includes all subordinate taxa; genus-level entries include all species.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 7 CFR 360.200. 111 entries; date printed or effective 2010-11-10.
Other official Tennessee plant lists
| List | Type | Agency | Plants | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibited Noxious-Weed seed (Rule 0080-05-06-.07(1)) | Seed law | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | 12 | Seed law only: weed seeds "designated noxious in Tennessee" with a maximum permitted rate of occurrence per pound of agricultural or vegetable seed; prohibited kinds are allowed at "None per pound". Governs seed labeling/sale of seed lots; it is NOT a ban on … |
| Restricted Noxious-Weed seed (Rule 0080-05-06-.07(2)) | Seed law | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | 15 | Seed law only: restricted noxious-weed seed is allowed up to the per-pound limit printed for each kind; agricultural seed containing "in excess of a sum total of 300 restricted noxious-weed seed per pound" is prohibited from sale in Tennessee (exceptions: … |
| Eradication of Johnson Grass (T.C.A. Title 43, Chapter 6, Part 2) | State rule | Tennessee General Assembly / Commissioner of Agriculture and county weed control boards | 1 | County-option law: in a county whose legislative body adopts the part, the commissioner declares a "Johnson grass extermination area" and landowners, utilities, road departments and others must control and eradicate Johnson grass on land they own or control … |
| Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200 Designation of noxious weeds) | Federal list | USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service | 111 | Federal: "No person may move a Federal noxious weed into or through the United States, or interstate" without a USDA permit (7 CFR 360.300). A scientific name includes all subordinate taxa; genus-level entries include all species. |
Seed law lists limit weed seed in seed sold for planting; they do not ban growing the plant. Advisory lists rank plants by threat and carry no legal effect.
When to plant in Tennessee: crop by crop
Planting dates for each crop in Tennessee, from the UT Extension calendar.
Tennessee invasive and banned plants: questions
Is Bradford pear banned in Tennessee?
No. Bradford (Callery) pear is not on any official Tennessee list.
Is Japanese barberry banned in Tennessee?
No. Japanese barberry is not on any official Tennessee list.
Is burning bush banned in Tennessee?
No. Burning bush is not on any official Tennessee list.
Is privet banned in Tennessee?
Yes. Chinese privet is on the Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02 list. Listed plants may not be propagated, sold, offered for sale or released in Tennessee. Retail: January 2010; Wholesale: January 2012
Is kudzu illegal in Tennessee?
No. Kudzu is not on any official Tennessee list.
Who makes the Tennessee banned plant list?
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industries (now Consumer and Industry Services) (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02). Date printed or effective: 2009-04-13.
What is the difference between a noxious weed seed list and a banned plant list?
The Tennessee seed law limits weed seed in seed sold for planting. Growing the plant is not banned by it; the ban list above is what stops sales of the plant itself.
Sources for Tennessee invasive plant lists
- Pest Plant List (Chapter 0080-06-24 Pest Plant Regulations), Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industries (now Consumer and Industry Services). Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02. Date printed or effective: 2009-04-13. Read November 12, 2026.
- Prohibited Noxious-Weed seed (Rule 0080-05-06-.07(1)), Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-05-06-.07(1). Date printed or effective: 2018-10-29. Read November 12, 2026.
- Restricted Noxious-Weed seed (Rule 0080-05-06-.07(2)), Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-05-06-.07(2). Date printed or effective: 2018-10-29. Read November 12, 2026.
- Eradication of Johnson Grass (T.C.A. Title 43, Chapter 6, Part 2), Tennessee General Assembly / Commissioner of Agriculture and county weed control boards. Tenn. Code Ann. 43-6-201 to 43-6-210. Read November 12, 2026.
- Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200 Designation of noxious weeds), USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 7 CFR 360.200. Date printed or effective: 2010-11-10. Read November 12, 2026.
Only lists published by a state agency, in state law or in federal rule are used. Lists change; check the agency page before buying or selling plants.
More for Tennessee: Tennessee gardening, what to plant now, planting zone map, frost dates and the lawn care calendar. For plant identification, ask your UT Extension county office.
Photos: Cosby Creek running through hardwood forest in the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Early fall foliage along the Russell Field Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Open farm fields near Cedar Hill in Robertson County, Tennessee: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Pile of ripe tomatoes: Jubair Bin Iqbal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Pepper plant in a kitchen garden loaded with green, yellow and red peppers: NPS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Potato plant growing in a garden bed: Kolforn (Kolforn), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Field of sweet corn in summer: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Clusters of long green bean pods hanging from a climbing bean vine: Nirajan_pant, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Cucumber vines climbing a wooden trellis in a kitchen garden: NPS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Squash plant with yellow blossoms and spreading stems in a straw-mulched garden: Mary O'Neill, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Leaf lettuce growing in a garden: GT1976, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.