A List of Popular Houseplants That Are Actually Banned

If you’re moving to a new state, your favorite houseplants may not be able to come with you. Some of the most popular houseplants are considered invasive in parts of the country including Sansevieria, Pothos, and Zebrina Plants. While there are restrictions and some could be permitted, it's better to know beforehand than pay the price later. 

Each state has its own banned plant list like this one for Maryland, California can be found here, and Florida which can be found here and here. Check your state’s website to see which houseplants are allowed, and which are banned where you live. 

While some plants are considered invasive like the Tradescantia (Zebrina Plants), there are currently only strong recommendations to keep them as indoor plants and not to plant them outside*. Only your state’s own website will be able to verify any current restrictions.

Here’s some of the most popular houseplant species, where they’re not allowed, and some sources so you can read more about them.

While this plant is popular both indoors and outdoors as plant hanging baskets and sometimes yard and fence covers, it is actually banned in Oregon, Washington state, and even Maryland. Homeowners love it because of the shapes, coloring, and ease-of-care, but it is also very fast growing and can overpower the local flora, killing the plantlife. This is why it is considered an invasive species in multiple states.

Golden Pothos is readily available for sale in all states, but it is heavily watched in tropical regions like Florida and Hawaii as it can grow up and overpower local trees and damage the understory. 

There have always been ongoing debates about whether they’re pretty and manageable, or a menace like this one, so we encourage you to keep your Pothos to a potted lifestyle vs. planting them outdoors for a tropical flare to your home garden. 

The reason we’re including it on this list is that it is one of the most popular houseplants in the USA, but also one that needs to be kept in a controlled environment.

This species of Syngonium plant is considered invasive and has no uses for existing outdoors by the University of Florida and similar groups in Hawaii like some pollinator plants and shade giving ones. 

It is considered invasive and much like other tropical plants, and the Arrowhead Vine can kill the local trees and understory. While we did see multiple references to it appearing on the federal list of noxious weeds, we checked ourselves on 9/21/2026, it is not there so you can likely find and buy it. We highly recommend you keep it potted in a planter and as an indoor plant, not a garden showpiece. 

While not banned for reasons like Kudzu or English Ivy, Madagascar Periwinkle is on the substance control list for states like Louisiana where it is allowed for decorative purposes only. We saw references to similar bans in Texas, but could not find a reliable source to show if the ban or listing actually happened. The Texas ban appears to be a debate in 2025 about an older law from the 1800’s. 

Along the gulf coast as well as tropical climates in Florida and Hawaii, you’ll find restrictions and recommendations to avoid planting Lantana Camara. While beautiful, it is not native and considered invasive by groups like the University of Austin Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. They even have this response in their Q&A on why they do not include it in their databases. The Native Plant Society of Texas has also said it is considered an invasive species by Texas now.

Make sure you check with your state’s website on if Lantana Camara is or is not banned, and double check the wording. There are multiple species, so you don’t want to assume one that is approved is the same you are buying or planting.

The Miracle Leaf Plant may sound miraculous, but it is listed as a category II invasive species in Florida, and a noxious weed in Hawaii. The good news is that it may not be fully banned where you live. With that said, it is recommended for anyone that lives in USDA Zones 9B - 12 to only plant this one in pots and to never add it to your gardens as they can take over and spread quickly.

For years the US Customs and Border Patrol has warned people to not bring Orange Jasmine plants across the border. You can find a list of their warnings here, and they specifically call it out in multiple Mother’s Day updates like this one. While it isn’t necessarily banned if sold legally in the USA, it is discouraged from growing in citrus fruit regions like California and Florida as it is a host to the asian citrus psyllid that can devastate citrus trees.

Much like others on this list, it impacts the tropical regions of Florida and Hawaii and is actually banned in places like Miami-Dade county. You can find it listed here on their website along with the Sansevieria listed at the top of this post. In addition to causing damage to the native flora, it is considered toxic to animals and people which you can read about here and here.

While some plants are not fully banned, just restricted on where they can be grown, some houseplants can wind you up in trouble if you accidentally bring them across a state line when you move or bring them as a holiday gift. Always check the state’s website to see if the houseplant is banned, and when you just want to be safe, go with something simple and stunning like a Calathea Prayer Plant, ZZ Plant, or Peperomia.

*Last checked via Google as of 9/21/2026