April 2026: Four new bills help the Commonwealth control invasive plants

Comparison chart showing Virginia legislative bills and their passage status, with check marks indicating approval in the Virginia General Assembly and by the governor.

Thank you to everyone who called their legislators!

We could not have done this without you!

Find Your Legislators

Preventing harms from invasive plants

Public service districts provide an existing common-sense policy solution for raising funds to control invasive plants.

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  • Expand Powers of Service Districts

    PDF
    Document titled 'Call Script: Expanding Powers of Service Districts' with points on being polite, respectful, follow-up, and a sample script for engaging with legislators, followed by contact information for Christopher Leyen.

  • Close Commercial Viability Loophole

    PDF
    Call script for closing a commercial viability loophole, including points on politeness, follow-up, and a sample speech about invasive plant species in Virginia, with contact information for Christopher Leyen.

  • Manage VDOT Rights-of-Way

    PDF
    Call script document with guidelines for engaging with legislators about invasive plant control, including polite communication and follow-up instructions.

Educate Your Legislators About Invasive Plants

Use Our Handy Talking Points and One-Page Leave-Behinds

Leave these with your legislator when you meet with them.

Find Your Legislators
  • Virginia General Assembly policy agenda poster with a scenic mountain landscape at the top, titled 'Blue Ridge PRISM 2026 General Assembly Policy Agenda,' discussing invasive plant management, with sections on scientific evaluation, local government action, and controlling invasive plants along roads, and featuring a blue logo of Blue Ridge PRISM.

    2026 Policy Summary

    PDF
  • Document titled 'Managing Invasive Plants at the Local Level' discussing invasive species management, impact on local governments, and solutions such as expanding service districts and local coordination.

    Expand Powers of Service Districts

    PDF
  • Document discussing measures to stop the spread of invasive plants, emphasizing removing the commercial viability loophole, with sections on Virginia's plant regulations, economic impact, and ecological damage from invasive species.

    Commercial Viability Loophole

    PDF
  • Document discussing HB88 to prevent invasive plants on Virginia highways, updates on planting restrictions, and plans for management and funding.

    Manage VDOT Rights-of-Way

    PDF

Why it matters:

Aligning priorities, empowering communities, managing spread, and continuing mitigation work are all opportunities that will help reverse the spread of invasive plants in Virginia.

A document titled 'Preventing Harms from Invasive Plants' with text discussing the impact of invasive plants, policies, and conservation efforts.
Page from a report on invasive plants, featuring sections on managing spread, ongoing efforts, and key takeaways, with a list of endnotes and references.
Multiple potted ivy plants with green leaves, labeled with plant tags, on a display shelf.

Help get invasive plants out of commerce.

48% of the invasive plants listed on the Virginia Invasive Plant Species List are still available for sale in Virginia. We’re asking America’s largest retail garden center to set the example and STOP selling invasive plants. You can learn more here.

Will you sign the petition today?

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Invasive Plants Available for Sale in Virginia

The invasive plants listed below can still be found at retail garden centers and online sellers who will ship to Virginia.

Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Beefsteak plant (Perilla frutescens)
Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa)
Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)
Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense)
Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)
Chinese tallow-tree (Triadica sebifera)
Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Cinnamon vine (Dioscorea polystachya)
Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica)
Crown-vetch (Securigera varia)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Five-leaf Akebia (Akebia quinata)
Fountain grass (Cenchrus purpurascens)
Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)

Greater perwinkle (Vinca major)
Italian Arum (Arum italicum)
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergi)
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica)
Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Leatherleaf Mahonia (Mahonia bealei)
Linden Arrow-wood (Viburnum dilatatum)
Marsh Dewflower (Murdannia keisak)
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
Nandina (Nandina domestica)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Parrot Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
Porcelain-berry (Ampelopsis glandulosa)

Ravenna Grass (Tripidium ravennae)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Royal Paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa)
Shrubby Bushclover (Lespedeza bicolor)
Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)
Thorny Olive (Elaeagnus pungens)
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Trifoliate Orange (Citrus trifoliata)
Water Hyacinth (Oshuna crassipes)
White Mulberry (Morus alba)
Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)
Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)
Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)