Disallowed Plant Species

Overview

Growth of weeds and other potentially harmful vegetation in the City of St. Louis are detrimental to and endanger the public health, safety, and welfare of City residents. Certain species of plants are not allowed on properties in the City because they are invasive, nuisance, noxious, or improperly placed.

Noxious, Nuisance and Invasive Plants

Noxious Weeds

A noxious weed is a weed that has been designated as harmful to crops, natural habitats or ecosystems, humans or livestock. Most noxious weeds have been introduced into an ecosystem by ignorance, mismanagement, or accident.

On properties in the City, these noxious weeds are disallowed:

• Federal Noxious Weeds
• Missouri Noxious Weeds
• Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
• Poke weed (Phytolacca americanna)

Nuisance Plants

Nuisance plants are toxic species known to cause death or severe allergic reactions among a segment of the human population. 

On properties in the City, these nuisance plants are disallowed.

Invasive Plants

Invasive, nonnative plants consume wildlife habitats and compete with crops. Some invasive species, such as Callery pear, are still being grown, promoted, sold, and purchased.

On properties in the City, these invasive plants are disallowed.

Improperly Placed Plants

Certain native plants can still be disallowed if they are not being managed. For example, Silver Maples are known to cluster together naturally. If there are lots of saplings all together or growing along the foundation of a building, then the Forestry Division knows that these trees, while a native plant, are not being properly managed.

• Silver Maple (Aceer saccharinum)
• Mulberry (Morus alba)
• Catalpa (speciosa & bignonioides)
• Elm (Ulmus pumila)
• Tree of Haven (Ailanthus altissima)