Alberta updates its Weed Control Regulation: 17 New Prohibited Noxious Plants
On: May 29, 2026
By: Eagle Lake Nurseries
Alberta has updated the Weed Control Regulation, the provincial list that determines which plants landowners must destroy (prohibited noxious) or control (noxious).
The 2026 update adds 17 species to the prohibited noxious list, including Queen Anne’s lace and invasive phragmites (common reed). Five species are added to the noxious list, and 12 species are reclassified between categories.
The regulation applies to all land in Alberta, including nursery and landscape sites. Anyone specifying, selling or planting ornamental species in Alberta should check the updated schedules, since some plants that were previously available in the trade now carry a legal obligation to control or remove.
The Alberta Invasive Species Council hosted a free webinar on June 3, 2026, “Invasive Plants in Alberta: Understanding the New Weed Regulations,” with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. Recordings and the full species lists are available through the Council at abinvasives.ca and through Alberta.ca.
