Six invasive tree species on the for sale ban list

In a significant move to safeguard Missouri’s natural landscapes, Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 105 into law on July 14, effectively banning the sale of six invasive plant species across the state.

The legislation, which takes effect on August 28, targets sericea lespedeza, burning bush, Callery (Bradford) pear, Japanese honeysuckle, perilla mint, and wintercreeper—plants notorious for their aggressive spread and detrimental impact on native ecosystems. 

“There’s at least one of the species that I was surprised by because it’s been one of our better sellers for years, and that is the Burning Bush,” Henkle’s Ace Hardware owner Cris Henkle said. “I don’t know why I was surprised. I guess it’s Latin. It is a Euonymus. So, it is related to the other one, Wintercreeper. … It will cover the tree and eat the tree from the inside out. The vine will cover the inside and it just absolutely destroys the tree.”

The new law, passed with broad bipartisan support in a 124-19 vote by the Missouri House of Representatives, aims to curb the spread of non-native plants that choke out native species, disrupt ecosystems, and create challenges for landowners and farmers.

“They are out-competing the natives,” Henkle said. “I think sometimes if you don’t have a nursery that understands the plants very well, you could easily be selling these. I think the invasive species list helps nurseries understand what they’re selling. It will also block people. A lot of our plants come in from out of other states and it will put blocks then to where they can’t sell to our state those plants so it won’t accidentally happen any longer.”

Among the banned species, the Callery pear—commonly known as the Bradford pear—has been a particular concern. Widely planted as an ornamental tree since the 1950s, its rapid spread has led to dense colonies that outcompete native plants and reduce resources for pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. Similarly, Japanese honeysuckle and wintercreeper form dense thickets that smother native vegetation, while perilla mint poses a toxicity risk to cattle, a concern echoed by the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, which supported the legislation.

To ease the transition for nurseries, the law includes a phased implementation. Five of the species—sericea lespedeza, burning bush, Japanese honeysuckle, perilla mint, and wintercreeper—can continue to be sold until January 1, 2027, while Callery pear and burning bush have until January 1, 2029, to allow sellers to deplete existing inventories.

“They have one to two years to quit selling those,” Henkle said. “There are growers in the state that sell shrubs and trees and so those would be the original ones because they’re going to have inventory that’s many years old. We typically turn our inventory enough that it won’t affect us so that we can stop selling them.”

The legislation has sparked enthusiasm among conservation groups and local communities. The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! initiative have recommended native alternatives such as American plum, flowering dogwood, eastern redbud, and serviceberry to replace invasive species in landscaping. 

Programs like MoIP’s Callery Pear “BuyBack” initiative, now expanded to 17 cities in 2025, encourage landowners to remove invasive trees and replace them with natives, further supporting the transition.

As Missouri moves forward with this proactive measure, the state sets a precedent for balancing economic considerations with environmental stewardship. By halting the sale of these six invasive plants, Missouri is not only protecting its native ecosystems but also fostering a renewed appreciation for the beauty and resilience of its natural heritage.