El Paso prohibits noxious and invasive species listed in Appendix C of its landscaping manual under EPMC Chapter 18.46. Texas Parks & Wildlife also maintains a statewide invasive species list. The city's approved plant list emphasizes native, drought-tolerant species suited to the Chihuahuan Desert climate.
El Paso's landscaping ordinance (EPMC Chapter 18.46) specifically prohibits the planting of noxious or invasive species identified in Appendix C of the city's landscaping and planting manual. The Community Services Department, Environmental Division, maintains and updates this list periodically. At the state level, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) publishes guidance on invasive species that threaten native ecosystems. Common invasive species in the El Paso region include saltcedar (Tamarix), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), giant reed (Arundo donax), and certain Bermuda grass varieties in riparian areas. The city's approved plant list strongly favors Chihuahuan Desert natives and low-water-use species such as desert willow, mesquite, creosote, and agave. New commercial and residential developments must use approved species and meet minimum landscape coverage requirements. Water-intensive species that require excessive irrigation are discouraged through the landscape code and El Paso Water conservation rules.
Installing prohibited species in new development violates the landscaping code and may result in stop-work orders and required replanting at the owner's expense.
El Paso, TX
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See how El Paso's prohibited species rules stack up against other locations.
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