LANSING, Mich. — Two floating water plants that have barely gained a foothold in Michigan could soon be off-limits entirely, and three others already spreading through the state could face new controls, under recommendations going before state agriculture regulators next week.
The Michigan Invasive Species Program wants creeping water-primrose and large-flowered water-primrose added to the prohibited list. It is also asking that round-leaved bittersweet, lesser celandine and common butterbur be placed on the restricted list.
The two categories reflect how far a plant has already spread. Prohibited species are those not yet widely established here, while restricted species already have a presence in Michigan. The listings are made under the state Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.
Why these five? The water-primroses grow fast in shallow water along wetlands and shorelines, sending up upright stems and sideways runners that choke out native growth. Round-leaved bittersweet is a twining woody vine, sometimes used in fall decorating, that builds dense thickets in forest openings and dunes, damages trees and outcompetes the native American bittersweet. Lesser celandine carpets floodplain woods and trail edges, then dies back by late spring and leaves bare soil open to erosion. Common butterbur, a big-leafed perennial that favors damp ground, spreads by seed and underground stems and also feeds erosion.
The proposal is listed as an information item on the agenda for the Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development, which meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Houghton Conference Room on the sixth floor of the Deborah A. Stabenow Building, 525 West Allegan Street. The session is open to the public and can also be joined remotely through Microsoft Teams.
Program specialists from the state agriculture department and the Department of Natural Resources are scheduled to present the recommendations. The same agenda includes a vote on nursery inspection fees and a proposal that would widen testing for bovine tuberculosis in Arenac, Iosco and Ogemaw counties.
Nothing changes right away. If the commission agrees to move the list forward, the state will open a 30-day public comment period. Staff will then summarize the feedback, suggest any changes and bring the package back to the commission for a final decision. The recommendations also go to the Natural Resources Commission for discussion on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
For gardeners, landscapers and nurseries, a prohibited or restricted listing generally means the plants can no longer be freely sold or planted, which is why the comment window matters to anyone who grows or handles them.
