Request for comments: Proposed additions to Michigan’s invasive plant lists

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is inviting Michigan stakeholders to provide comments on proposed additions to the invasive plant species regulated in the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA)(1994) Part 413. MDARD is proposing these additions based on rigorous, scientific Weed Risk Assessments that indicated six invasive plant species could harm Michigan’s environmental, economic, and/or human health. Preventing the spread of invasive species is important to help safeguard the quality of Michigan ecosystems, the strength of Michigan’s economy, and the health of people in Michigan.

• Read the proposed order.
• Read Weed Risk Assessments for each of the proposed species: 

• Common buckthorn.
• Glossy buckthorn.
• Callery pear.
• Japanese barberry.
• Water hyacinth.
• Water lettuce.

Stakeholders can provide comments through an online survey. All comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm EST on Monday, February 9, 2026.

Why is MDARD proposing these additions?

MDARD used Weed Risk Assessments (WRAs) to determine these plant species will potentially cause harm to Michigan's environment, economy and/or human health. The WRAs are supported by MDARD and stakeholder groups as the most scientific way to assess whether a plant species is invasive due to their use of scientific and other primary literature, verified plant locations, climate data, and more to determine a plant’s potential to cause harm (invasive potential) and whether a plant would survive in Michigan (as well as North America as a whole).

MDARD is charged under NREPA Part 413 with the regulation of invasive plant species, in consultation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. An invasive species is defined in law as a species that is not native and causes or is likely to cause harm to the environment, economy, and/or human health. Regulating invasive species can reduce their spread in Michigan by ending introduction through sales and trading/sharing, minimizing movement of seeds and sprouts contaminating other materials, and increasing public awareness of the harm done by a species. Fewer introductions of a species means less of the species in the wild, which makes management efforts more effective and less costly.

What will happen if MDARD adds these plants to the invasive plant lists?

If the proposed species are added to the NREPA Part 413 Restricted and Prohibited lists, then it will be illegal to introduce, import, transplant, sell, or intentionally possess them in Michigan. However, a person isn’t considered to be in violation of the rules if they unknowingly have invasive species established on their lands or in waterways.

Please use the online survey to provide comments on the proposed additions to the Restricted and Prohibited lists by 11:59 pm EST on Monday, February 9, 2026. Your input is important and will help ensure that any regulatory changes are well-informed and appropriate. After the public comment period, MDARD will review all feedback and determine if any changes need to be made to this proposal. All changes will be presented to the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development.

For additional information on identifying, reporting, and managing invasive species, visit MDARD’s invasive plants web page.