Monday, August 4, 2025
New plants added to state quarantine list
After months of public and industry outreach, investigations into the impact on small businesses, and receiving petitions from the community, the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Plant Services Program has updated the state’s Noxious Weed Seed and Plant Quarantine to include several new plant species. The rule takes effect this Saturday, August 9, 2025.The plants that were added to the list are:
- Common (English) ivy (Hedera helix);
- Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica);
- Spotted touch me not (Impatiens capensis);
- Cape pondweed (Aponogeton distachyos);
- Hanging sedge (Carex pendula, Carex pendula subsp. pedula, and Carex pendula subsp. agastachys);
- Green alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens);
- Common Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare (except bulbing fennel, F. vulgare var. azoricum));
- European coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara);
- Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum);
- Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale);
- Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta);
- Wild basil/basil savory (Clinopodium vulgare);
- Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus);
- Camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum);
- Russian knapweed (Rhaponticum repens);
- Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris);
- Rough chervil (Chaerophyllum temulum);
- Turkish thistle (Carduus cinereus); and
- Palmer's amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri).
What this means for you
Plants listed in the quarantine may not be sold in Washington State. Nurseries and other plant sellers or installers must not sell or install these plants. If you see these or any other plants on the quarantine list for sale in Washington, please notify the WSDA Plant Services Program at nursery@agr.wa.gov. Please include a photograph of the prohibited plants or seeds for sale and include the name and location of the business selling the plants. WSDA will reach out to the plant seller to educate them about the plant quarantine and ensure the plants are removed from sale. Failure to comply after being educated about the quarantine can result in fines.
Why it matters
WSDA is responsible for establishing quarantines for non-native plants that pose a threat to agriculture or the environment. Preventing their sale in the state is one important step to limiting initial or new introductions of these problematic plants.
Please note: When updating the quarantine list, the agency incorrectly used the common name “Boston ivy” for Hedera hibernica. Boston ivy is normally associated with Parthenocissus tricuspidate, which is not regulated. WSDA is conducting expedited rulemaking to remove “Boston ivy” from the rule language, which will be finalized in the coming months.