Noxious Weed Control

Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture publishes a list of invasive, non-native plants that are harmful “to human or animal health, the environment, public road, crops, livestock or other property” (Minnesota Department of Agriculture). These plants are called noxious weeds. There are three lists of noxious weeds: Eradicate, Control, and Restricted. Each list is updated annually. The current list of noxious weeds can be found at this link.

Eradicate

There currently are not any reports of noxious weeds on Minnesota’s eradicate list in Aitkin County; however, meadow knapweed has been reported along the southeastern border, in Pine County.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture publishes a map with reports of any species on the Eradicate list, found at this link.

Control

There are 10 species of noxious weeds on the Control list in Aitkin County.

Bohemian knotweed
Canada thistle
Common tansy
Giant knotweed
Japanese knotweed
Non-native phragmites
Plumeless thistle
Purple loosestrife
Spotted knapweed
Wild parsnip

Restricted

There are 5 species of noxious weeds on the Restricted list in Aitkin County.

Black locust
Common buckthorn (European buckthorn)
Garlic mustard
Glossy buckthorn
Siberian peashrub

These maps are current as of March 2022. These maps consist of just the verified reports of invasives uploaded to EDDMapS; many invasives are far more widespread than these maps show. Common tansy, common buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, Canada thistle, and spotted knapweed are very common throughout Aitkin County. The Aitkin SWCD is working on updating and further tracking terrestrial invasive species.