This month brings good news for wild spaces such as the banks of the Patuxent River. After years of advocacy and regulatory work, Maryland has prohibited the sale of a new list of invasive plant species. Additional plants will be assessed each year and added to the list if they meet the criteria.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an invasive species is nonnative to an ecosystem and causes economic, environmental or human health harm. Invasive plants overtake natural areas and replace native species, degrading wildlife habitat. At Riverfront Park, for example, invasive species often outnumber native plants. Each year, the City of Laurel organizes volunteer days along the Patuxent River to remove invasive vines and shrubs. But nearby residential gardens continue to grow many of these same plants, allowing wind, rain and birds to carry seeds back into the park.
In 2023, the Maryland Native Plant Coalition drafted the Biodiversity and Agriculture Protection Act, creating a process for experts to classify plant species as invasive and prohibit their sale. The General Assembly passed the measure, and it was signed into law in 2024. After regulations were written and initial assessments completed, the Maryland Department of Agriculture on Jan. 15, 2026, announced a list of 13 invasive plant species now prohibited for sale. The announcement is available at http://bit.ly/4qH0kTL…