Update 5/24/2016: Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) will be holding a public hearing on June 9 to seek comment regarding six proposed additions to the Prohibited Plant List (also known as the Quarantine List). The State Weed Board requested the addition of four of the proposed species and the Department of Ecology requested two of them. The proposed additions are:
- Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), except for accepted sterile cultivars
- Yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)
- Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna)
- All non-native hawkweed species and hybrids (non-native Hieraciumm spp.)
- Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)
- Australian water clover (Marsilea mutica)
The hearing takes place at 9:00 on Thursday, June 9 in the Natural Resource Building, located at 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia, Washington on the second floor in room 205. Comments regarding the proposed changes to WAC 16-752 can be made in person by testifying at the hearing, by mail to: WSDA – Plant Services, Attn: Cindy Cooper, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, or by email to ccooper@agr.wa.gov. Comments can be received up through the time of the public hearing.
According to the WSDA notice: “The purpose of the noxious weed seed and plant quarantine is to prevent the establishment or spread of noxious weeds within the state by prohibiting their sale and movement. The noxious weed quarantine prohibits the sale of certain plant species that are determined to be invasive, non-native, and harmful to our local ecosystems or disrupt agricultural production. Many of the quarantined species were introduced as ornamentals through the horticulture trade. Most of the listed species in the quarantine are also listed in chapter 16-750 WAC, the state noxious weed list, as a Class A or a Class B noxious weed, requiring mandatory control by county weed boards. However, designation as a noxious weed on the state noxious weed list doesn’t prohibit its sale, allowing consumers to buy a plant species that’s prohibited by their county weed board. Prohibiting the sale of plants designated under the state noxious weed list for mandatory control will support the efforts of county weed boards to control noxious weeds.”
Original post: The Washington Department of Agriculture plans to add six noxious weeds to the list of plants prohibited from being sold or transported in the state. All of the plants are non-native and if not quarantined could get a foothold and harm the environment or agriculture or both, according to officials.