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Invasive plants in New York: 6 NYCRR Part 575 prohibits 69 plants and regulates six others, which may still be sold with a warning label.

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Regulatory status

New York regulates invasive plants under 6 NYCRR Part 575, which took effect on March 10, 2015. A prohibited plant cannot be knowingly possessed with intent to sell, import, purchase, transport or introduce it, and no person may sell, import, purchase, transport, introduce or propagate one. A regulated plant may be possessed, sold, bought, propagated and transported, but it may not be introduced into a free-living state. The six regulated plants must carry a 14-point warning label. Part 575 does not require a landowner to manage or destroy a population that was already established when the rule took effect.

New York’s rule splits invasive plants into two groups. The difference matters when you buy, sell or move a plant.

Prohibited means the plant cannot be knowingly possessed with intent to sell, import, purchase, transport or introduce it. No person may sell, import, purchase, transport, introduce or propagate a prohibited plant. The Part 575 list has 69 prohibited plants. It includes giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, garlic mustard, multiflora rose, lesser celandine and autumn olive.

Regulated means the plant can still be possessed, sold, bought, propagated and transported. It may not be introduced into a free-living state, such as public land, a connected natural area or public water. The six regulated plants must carry a warning label in at least 14-point type when they are sold.

Status What the law says Examples from the Part 575 list
Prohibited Cannot be sold, imported, purchased, transported, introduced or propagated. Possession with intent to sell is also banned. Giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, garlic mustard, multiflora rose, lesser celandine, autumn olive
Regulated May be sold and moved, but may not be released into a free-living state. Sellers must label these six plants. Norway maple, Japanese virgin’s bower, burning bush, winter creeper, Chinese silver grass, black locust

The rule is about commerce and release, not about ordering you to clear your land. The state’s own questions and answers say existing populations that were established before the rule took effect do not require management by the owner. You can still remove them.

Giant hogweed warning. Do not touch giant hogweed. Its sap, together with sunlight and moisture, can cause a severe burn within 24 to 48 hours. Keep sap off your skin and eyes. If you think you have found it, report it to DEC at 845-256-3111 and do not try to remove it without protection.

Part 575 applies statewide. To see what has been reported near you, search iMapInvasives. A blank spot on the map does not prove the plant is absent.

The New York Invasive Species Information network, or NYIS, is an information partnership, not the rule-maker. Use it for identification and management context, and use Part 575 for legal status.

In New York, two good places to start are Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed. Both are prohibited. Our removal guides cover the methods. If you use an herbicide, follow the product label, because the label is the law.

Browse all state pages. This page was checked against the state sources on November 3, 2026.

Reporting and official sources

Reporting routes and classifications change. Confirm the current process with the state agency before submitting a report.

Priority species in New York

Sources

Facts on this page were checked against the sources below. Each link shows the date the source was accessed.

  1. Invasive Species Regulations — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Accessed November 3, 2026
  2. Invasive Species — New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Accessed November 3, 2026
  3. Giant Hogweed — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Accessed November 3, 2026
  4. Prohibited and Regulated Invasive Species (6 NYCRR Part 575) — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Accessed November 3, 2026
  5. Regulations — New York Invasive Species Information Accessed November 3, 2026
  6. NYS Prohibited and Regulated Invasive Plants — Cornell Cooperative Extension Clinton County Accessed November 3, 2026

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