Joliet, IL – Nine more invasive plant species are being added to Illinois’ official list of exotic weeds, part of a statewide effort to better protect natural habitats in areas such as Will County.
According to the University of Illinois Extension, the new restrictions will take effect Oct. 1, 2025, banning the sale, distribution or planting of most listed species. One exception is the Callery pear, also known as the Bradford pear, which will be added to the list on Jan. 1, 2028, allowing nurseries time to phase out existing stock.
The nine new additions include tree-of-heaven, garlic mustard, leafy spurge, sericea lespedeza, Japanese stiltgrass, Amur corktree, black swallowwort, pale swallowwort, and Callery pear. The update brings Illinois’ total number of officially recognized exotic weeds to 34.
Juli Mason, conservation director for the Forest Preserve District of Will County, said many of these species have already been identified in local preserves. “Staff manage these plants in high-priority ecological areas,” Mason said, noting that techniques vary by species—ranging from selective herbicide treatments for Japanese stiltgrass to prescribed burns and cut-stump treatments for tree-of-heaven and Callery pear.
The Illinois Invasive Species Council recommended the changes after reviewing each plant’s potential to spread rapidly, outcompete native species and disrupt ecosystem balance.
These updates, made under the Illinois Exotic Weed Act, complement other state regulations such as the Noxious Weed Act and Injurious Species Rule, all designed to curb the spread of harmful, non-native plants across the state.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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