Illinois Exotic Weed Act

Exotic weed are plants not native to North America, which spread vegetatively or by seed and naturalize in the environment. Invasive exotic species degrade natural communities, reduce the value of fish and wildlife habitat, and threaten endangered or threatened species. A growing body of research demonstrates that invasive exotic species are the second largest-and probably fastest growing-threat to biodiversity locally and nationally. In 1880 species classified as imperiled in the United States, invasive exotics played a major role in the listing of 49%. This was second only to habitat loss and was significantly higher than pollution, overexploitation and disease combined. Invasive exotic species also cause changes in ecosystem structure and function and increase degradation of unique regional biota.
The state of Illinois responded to this problem by passing the Illinois Exotic Weed Act in 1987. The Illinois Exotic Weed Act makes it unlawful to but, sell, offer for sale, distribute, or plant seeds, plants or plant parts of exotic weeds in Illinois. In 1987 the act designated three species as exotic weeds in Illinois, the act was amended in 2003 for a total of ten invasive and exotic species on the list. Contrary to what some believe, there are no varieties, subspecies, or cultivars of any of the listed exotic species that can be legally sold in Illinois. The only way a variety, subspecies or cultivar of any of the listed species can be legally bought, sold, distributed, or offered for sale as seeds plants or plant parts is with a permit issued by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. By law, such permits shall be issued only for experiments into controlling and eradicating exotic weeds or for research to demonstrate that a variety of a species listed in this Act is not an exotic weed as defined on in the Act.

Information taken from the Illinois Exotic Weed Act and the Sale of Non-Native Plants In Illinois, The Harbinger quarterly newsletter, Illinois Native Plant Society, Volume 22, NO 2, February 2005
Written by Ben Dolbeare
Central Chapter
Conservation Coordinator
Illinois Department of Natural Resources