10/28/2025
9 new invasive plants can no longer be bought, sold, distributed, or planted in Illinois with the recent expansion of the Exotic Weeds Act by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources:
- Callery pear
- Tree-of-heaven
- Garlic mustard
- Leafy spurge
- Sericea lespedeza
- Japanese stiltgrass
- Amur corktree
- Black and pale swallowwort
The new species were recommended after being reviewed by the Illinois Invasive Species Council, which includes stakeholders from state and local governments, the nursery and landscaping industry, research institutions, and non-profit organizations.
The regulations take effect immediately, except for callery pear, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2028, allowing a phase-out period for growers to reduce their stock of planted trees.
Read more at https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/nine-new-invasive-species-regulated-illinois-expansion-exotic-weeds-act
Explore more about invasive species identification and management at https://go.illinois.edu/Invasive
