Invasive Aquatic Plants

What every water gardener and shoreline restorer should know

Invasive species are plants and animals that are Hydrilla is one not native to an area, which are capable of example of a causing harm. While most non-native plant spe- very invasive cies are not a problem, a few, such as purple plant found “hitchhiking” on loosestrife, flowering rush, and Eurasian water- rootstocks of milfoil, harm ecosystems and impede water ornamental recreation. Purple loosestrife, once sold and aquatic plants. used because of its beautiful flowers, has Photo: courtesy of invaded thousands of Minnesota wetlands, Alison Fox displacing native plants and reducing food and habitat for native species. Other non-native aPlant clean material plants, such as yellow iris and pink water lilies, Wash off loose pieces of vegetation and debris have spread in a few Minnesota waters and ap- in a bucket of tap water before planting. In pear to have invasive characteristics. Once in- some cases, a fragment of an invasive species troduced, invasive species can spread to new will cling to the rootstock of another desirable areas and can rarely be eliminated. Once estab- plant. Make sure you don’t plant any lished, the costs to reduce their harmful impacts “hitchhikers.” can be considerable. a How to avoid Invasive Species: Use native plants Native plants are adapted to an area and to each a Don’t use illegal species other. Ask your local plant seller or contact the Minnesota Prohibited Invasive Species are Minnesota Department of Natural Resources likely to cause problems and should be avoided. (DNR) to find out the best native plants to use Prohibited Invasive Species may not be legally in your area. sold, purchased, or possessed in Minnesota aIf you want to plant in a natural water (see list on back). body, contact your local DNR office a Use all other non-native species cautiously Native species may be planted in natural Most aquatic plants available for sale are waters, but a permit is needed to plant below the non-native. These non-native aquatic plants can ordinary high water line in “public” waters (see be possessed, but must be kept out of public diagram on back). If you wish to plant in a waters, which include most lakes, wetlands, and natural water, please contact your DNR Area or streams (see diagram and list on back). Regional Fisheries Office or the DNR Info Center (toll-free 1-888-646-6367) to find out if For the phone number of your DNR Area or the water body is public, to find out if your Regional Fisheries Office contact the plants are natives, and to obtain a per- DNR Info Center at 651-296-6157 (toll free 1-888-646-6367) Minnesota DNR Division of Ecological Services May 11, 2006 Where you can use aquatic plants

"Public" waters are most natural waters - A permit Created ponds or water is required for planting gardens, with no outflow native aquatic plants to “public” waters - It is below the ordinary high OK to place any legally water line. It is illegal to purchased aquatic plant place any non-native spe- species (any plants except cies in these waters below illegal species). the ordinary high water line.

Created ponds or non-public natural waters connected to "public" waters - Native aquatic plants may be planted without a permit from the DNR. It is illegal to place any non-native species in these waters.

Illegal Invasive Aquatic Plants * Regulated Invasive Aquatic Plants Minnesota Prohibited Invasive Species may not be sold, purchased or possessed in Minnesota. Nevertheless, In Minnesota, all non-native aquatic plants avail- some of these species are available for sale through able for sale are regulated in some way. Even non- catalog and Internet sales. The following is a short list of native species that are legal to buy and possess may some of these species known to be sold for water not be placed in public waters, nor in ponds con- gardening. nected to public waters (see diagram above). The Ambulia (Limnophila sessiliflora) following are examples of some commonly sold Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) non-native species. European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) Banded nardoo, water clover (Marsilea mutica) Indian swampweed (Hygrophila polysperma) Fanwort (Cabomba Caroliniana) Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria, Hybrid hardy water lilies (Nymphaea sp.) Lythrum virgatum and all cultivars) note: native water lilies are Watermoss, Giant salvinia, caterpillars Nymphaea odorata subs. odorata and (Salvinia molesta, Salvinia auriculata) N. odorata subs. tuberosa Water Velvet (Azolla pinnata) Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) Parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) If you see any Minnesota Prohibited Invasive Species for sale in Minnesota, please report it to the DNR. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) Water poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides) Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus) * The full list of Minnesota Prohibited Invasives can be found on the DNR Web site: Yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_services/invasives/ laws.html

For more information contact, Wendy Crowell Minnesota DNR at 651-259-5085 or toll free 1-888-646-6367 Division of Ecological Services www.dnr.state.mn.us May 11, 2006