Native plants are indigenous to a particular region or ecosystem, having evolved in concert with local wildlife, soils, and climatic conditions over hundreds of thousands of years. They are essential components of thriving ecosystems and are critical to the biodiversity of our state. These plants are also essential tools for stormwater management, climate mitigation, and coastal preservation. Despite their enormous value to our state, less than 20% of plants sold through the nursery trade are native species and our region’s landscapes are heavily dominated by nonnative plants.
Nonnative plants—also termed exotic, introduced, or ornamental species—are those that have been brought to an area outside their natural range by human activity, either intentionally or accidentally. These are predominately used in ornamental gardening and have also been used historically in forestry and agriculture. Many nonnative plants have cultural or sentimental value and a history of human uses. While nonnative plants do not support our local ecosystem in the same way as native species, most do not cause any harm and do not need to be managed in any particular way.
Invasive plants are a specific subset of nonnative species that not only successfully establish themselves in a region but also spread aggressively, causing environmental degradation, economic loss, and, in some cases, harm to human health. Invasive species diminish biodiversity by supplanting native plants, thereby undermining wildlife habitats and ecosystem resilience. They often alter soil chemistry and hydrology, resulting in lasting ecological change. Not all nonnative plants are invasive. According to the Non-Native Species Secretariat, only 10-15% of introduced plants have historically become invasive and begun to cause ecological harm. However, these plants require diligent and thoughtful management, including legislative and regulatory efforts.
Connecticut prohibits numerous invasive plants, with recent additions effective October 2024 including Japanese Wisteria, Chinese Wisteria, Japanese Angelica Tree, Quackgrass, and Mugwort, banning their sale, transport, and cultivation; future bans (Oct 2027/2028) target Callery Pear, Japanese Barberry, Burning Bush, and more, with the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group providing the comprehensive, updated list of regulated species.
View the comprehensive list HERE.
Massachusetts prohibits selling, importing, or distributing many invasive plants, including Japanese Barberry, Multiflora Rose, Japanese Knotweed, Creeping Jenny, Burning Bush, Norway Maple, Garlic Mustard, and Phragmites, with the list updated regularly by the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and available on mass.gov. These bans cover all varieties and hybrids, aiming to stop the spread of plants that outcompete natives, and you can find a full official list here
Rhode Island is the only New England State and one of only a few in the nation to not prohibit the sale of any terrestrial invasive plants. That means that many of the plants prohibited sale by our neighbors, plants with the potential to cause harm to our shared ecosystems, and plants that cost RI taxpayers millions to manage are still available for sale. In 2026 legislation is being introduced that would finally begin to curb the sale of invasive plants. We encourage RI residents to learn more about all of the details behind this and learn more about how you can support these effortS/