eOrganic author:
Emily Skelton, Seeds of Change
This is an Organic Seed Resource Guide article.
This is a list of prohibited and restricted noxious weeds species commonly found in vegetable seed lots. This is not a list of all noxious weed species. For current state noxious weed seed regulations as legislated by the Federal Seed Act, see the Agricultural Marketing Service's 2008 State Noxious-Weed Seed Requirements Recognized in the Administration of the Federal Seed Act publication.
Common Prohibited and Restricted Noxious Weed Seeds
| Common Name | Species | States Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Anoda Spurred | Anoda cristata | CO |
| Bedstraw | Galium spp. | CT, NH, NY, VT |
| Bladder Campion | Silene cucubalas | WA |
| Bull Thistle | Cirsium vulgare | MI, MN |
| Canada Thistle | Cirsium arvense | AK, KS |
| Dodder | Cuscata spp. | CT |
| Bindweed | Convolvulus arvensis | PA, RI, UT |
| Giant Foxtail | Setaria faberi | SC |
| Hedge Bindweed | Convolvulus sepium, also Calystegia sepium | ALL |
| Johnsongrass | Sorghum halepense | CO |
| Morning Glory | Ipomoea purpurea | AZ, MI, NE, NM |
| Mullein | Verbascum thapsus | HI |
| Puncturevine | Tribulus terrestris | AZ, HI, MI, NE, NV |
| Ragweed | Ambrosia artemisiifolia | HI, KS |
| Scotch Thistle | Onopodum acanthium | AZ, CO, NE, NV, WA, WY |
| St. John's Wort | Hypericum perforatum | CO, HI, ID, MT, NV |
| White Horsenettle | Solanum elaeagnifolium | AR, CO, IA, NV |
| Wild Lettuce, Blue Flower | Lactuca pulchella | AK |
| Yellow Starthistle | Cenaurea solstitialis | AZ, CO, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT |
| Common Name | Species | Maximum Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor Button | Cenaurea cyanus | 27/lb |
| Barnyard Grass | Echinochloa frumentacea | 300/lb |
| Black Bindweed/Wild Buckwheat | Plyganum convovulus | AK - 2/lb |
| Black Nightshade | Solanum nigrum | 9/lb |
| Buckthorn | Plantago lanceolata | 200/lb |
| Common Plantain | Plantago spp. | 90/lb |
| Crabgrass | Digitaria sanguinalis | 27/lb |
| Giant Foxtail | Setaria faberi | 25/lb |
| Hairy Nightshade | Solanum sarrachoides | 9/lb |
| Large Crabgrass | Panicum spp. | 27/lb |
| Pennycress, Fanweed | Thlaspi arvense | 18/lb |
| Tansy Mustard | Descurainia pinnata | 45/lb |
| White Cockle | Silene alba | 2.5% total wt. |
| Wild Carrot | Daucus carota | 18/lb |
| Wild Lettuce | Lactuca tatarica subsp. Pulchella | 27/lb |
| Wild Mustard | Brassica spp. | 18/lb |
| Wild Radish | Raphanus raphanistrum or spp. | 12/lb |
| Wild Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | 16/lb |
References and Citations
- State noxious-weed seed requirements recognized in the administration of the Federal Seed Act [Online]. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Marketing Service. Seed Regulatory and Testing Service. Available at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2017NWSList.pdf (verified 8 Mar 2024).
This publication contains information about the various state labeling requirements and prohibitions of noxious-weed seeds and shows the botanical names and common names according to the law and regulations of the particular state in which the seed is noxious. It is the responsibility of seed dealers to know the requirements of state laws and the changes in those laws.
