Lowell, MA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Massachusetts has one of the nation's more comprehensive invasive plant regulatory frameworks. The Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List, maintained by the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) under MGL Chapter 128B, currently includes 144 plant species that are prohibited from importation, sale, trade, purchase, and distribution in the state. This includes all cultivars, varieties, and hybrids of listed species. Key prohibited species include: Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) — added in 2022 due to its link to tick habitat and Lyme disease, particularly significant in Middlesex County's suburban areas; Norway maple (Acer platanoides); burning bush (Euonymus alatus); glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus); multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora); oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus); and autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). The Massachusetts Invasive Plants Advisory Group (MIPAG) separately evaluates species and has identified 69 species as Invasive, Likely Invasive, or Potentially Invasive. While MIPAG designations are advisory, they influence the Prohibited Plant List and municipal land management decisions. Middlesex County's mix of suburban development and remaining natural areas (Middlesex Fells Reservation, Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge) makes invasive plant management a regional priority. Many municipalities within the county participate in invasive species removal programs through conservation commissions and volunteer groups. Nurseries and garden centers in Massachusetts are prohibited from selling listed species, and violations are enforced by MDAR.