Gallery of Invaders

Vermont's Noxious Weed Quarantine Summer 2010 UPdate

In 2003 the Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food & Markets passed the Noxious Weed Quarantine rule to regulate the importation, movement, sale, possession, cultivation and distribution of certain invasive plants. The plants found on the Noxious Weed Quarantine pose a serious threat to Vermont's working forests and natural areas.

In 2010, the Vermont Invasive Exotic Plant Committee (VIEPC) is seeking to add Amur maple, Norway maple, burning bush (winged euonymus), Japanese and common barberry, yellow flag iris, brittle waternymph, and other plant species to the Noxious Weed Quarantine Rule. Under the proposed quarantine rule, nurseries would be granted a three year phase-out period in which they can sell off existing stock of these species.

Several of the species we have proposed are currently sold by Vermont nuseries and widely used by gadeners. In an effort to reduce the sale of these plants, while at the same time support horticultural professionals, GreenWorks/Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association, The Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and VIEPC have collaborated to educate the public about the negative environmental impacts of invasive species. Together, we educate the public about why invasives are a problem, how they can be removed from gardens and natural areas, and what plants are good options for safe, non-invasive alternatives.

In summer 2010, we developed the Vermont Voluntary Code of Conduct (Voluntary Code). The intent of the Voluntary Code is to reduce the sale of non-native terrestrial plants that have been found to be invasive in Vermont yet are currently legal to sell, including Japanese barberry, Common barberry, Burning Bush, Norway maple, Amur maple, and Yellow Iris, including all cultivars for these species. Vermont horticultural professionals, including nursery owners, landscape designers, landscape architects, and landscapers are asked to cease the sale and use of these species by March 1, 2011. This voluntary commitment is in anticipation that the Agency of Agriculture will add these four species to the quarantine rule within the next year. Professionals who agree to the conditions outlined in the Voluntary Code will be recognized for their efforts through websites, press releases, and other media opportunities. They will also receive a placard that they can hang in their place of business and a decal for office and vehicle windows. If you have questions about the Voluntary Code please contact The Nature Conservancy at 802-229-4425 x120 or GreenWorks at 888-518-6484.

• Quarantine Rule
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Quarantine Rule
• Voluntary Code of Conduct

Quarantine Update: As of July 2010, the Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food & Markets reports that the status of the Rule is as follows: "The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Plant Industry Section is reviewing Pest Risk Assessment forms for Amur maple, Norway maple, burning bush (winged euonymus), Japanese and common barberry, yellow flag iris, brittle waternymph, and other plant species for proposed addition to the Noxious Weed Quarantine Rule (Quarantine 3# - Noxious Weeds). 

Addition of plants to the rule occurs through the formal rule-making process, outlined at the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), details of which are available at the Vermont Secretary of State office webpage (http://vermont-archives.org/aparules/).

At this time, the Agency of Agriculture is soliciting pre-filing input from interested stakeholders and the horticultural community in general.  Copies of the proposed amendments to the rule should be available for comment in the near future.  The actual date of filing is uncertain, due to resource limitations at the Agency, but is anticipated sometime in the 2010-2011 timeframe."

Vermont's Invasive Plant Watch List

After the establishment of the Noxious Weed Quarantine, the Vermont Invasive Exotic Plant Committee created an invasive plant watch list to monitor other non-native plants that have the potential to become invasive in Vermont. This list has no legal implications but instead encourages people to observe, assess and report where these species occur and how rapidly they may be spreading.

• VIEPC Invasive Watch List

Aquatic plants
Trees
Shrubs
Vines
Grasses
Herbaceous

Image	Status	Common Name Scientific Name	Information
		fanwort Cabomba caroliniana	Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US
	Watch List	pond water-starwort Callitriche stagnalis	Identification Maps: US
		Brazalian elodea Egeria densa	Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US
		hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata	Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US
		frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae	Fact sheet Identification Maps: US
		E. Indian hygrophila Hygrophila polysperma	Fact sheet Identification Maps: US
	Watch List	European waterclover Marsilea quadrifolia	Identification Maps: US
		parrot feather Myriophyllum aquaticum	Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US
		variable-leaved milfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum	Fact sheet Identification Maps: US
		Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum	Fact sheet What Vermont is Doing Identification Management Summary Maps: US
	Watch List	brittle waternymph Najas minor	Identification Maps:US
		yellow floating heart Nymphoides peltata	Fact sheet Identification Maps: US
		curly leaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus	Fact sheet Identification Maps: US
	watch list	watercress Rorripa nasturtium-aquaticum	Identification Maps: US
		giant salvinia Salvinia spp.	Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US
		water chestnut Trapa natans	Fact sheet What Vermont is Doing Identification Management Summary Maps: US

Image Status Common Name Scientific Name Information watch list Amur maple Acer ginnala Identification Maps: US watch list Norway maple Acer platanoides Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list princess tree Paulownia tomentosa Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list white poplar Populus alba Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US glossy buckthorn Rhamnus frangula Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list black locust Robinia pseudoacacia Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US

Image Status Common Name Scientific Name Information watch list European black alder Alnus glutinosa Identification Maps: US watch list false indigo Amorpha fruticosa Identification Maps: US watch list Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list common barberry Berberis vulgaris Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list burning bush Euonymus alata Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica or Polygonum cuspidatum Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list border privet Ligustrum obtusifolium Identification Management Summary Maps: US bell honeysuckle Lonicera x bella Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US Amur honeysuckle Lonicera maackii Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US Morrow honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US Tartarian honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list dwarf honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list giant knotweed Polygonum sachalinense Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list multi-flora rose Rosa multiflora Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US

Image Status Common Name Scientific Name Information watch list porcelainberry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list mile-a-minute vine Polygonum perfoliatum Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US pale swallow-wort Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US black swallow-wort Vincetoxicum nigrum Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US

Image Status Common Name Scientific Name Information watch list reed mannagrass Glyceria maxima Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list Japanese stilt grass Microstegium vimineum Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea Identification Management Summary Maps: US common reed Phragmites australis Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US

Image Status Common Name Scientific Name Information goutweed Aegopodium podagraria Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list wild chervil Anthriscus sylvestris Fact sheet Identification Look-Alike Plant Key Management Summary 71 Reason to Tackle Wild Chervil Maps: US flowering rush Butomus umbellatus Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list narrowleaf bittercress Cardamine impatiens Identification Maps: US watch list spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa or Centaurea biebersteinii Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list cypress spurge Euphorbia cyparissias Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list Dame's rocket Hesperis matronalis Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list yellow iris Iris pseudacorus Fact sheet Identification Management Summary Maps: US watch list garden loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris Fact sheet Identification Maps: US purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Fact sheet What Vermont is Doing Identification Management Summary Maps: US