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Invasive Plants

The Alberta Weed Control Act

The Weed Control Act is legislation in Alberta that directs all landowners to prevent the growth, propagation and spread of regulated weed species. The Weed Control Act lists specific weed species as either Noxious or Prohibited Noxious.

View the Weed Control Act using this link


Weed Control Regulation

The Weed Control Regulation provides the list of prohibited noxious weeds and noxious weeds. It describes seed cleaning facility licensing procedures as well as the requirements of the appeal process for inspector’s notices, local authority’s notices, and debt recovery notices.

View the Weed Control Regulation using this link


Regulated Weeds

Noxious Weeds

Noxious weeds means a plant designated in accordance with the regulations as a noxious weed and includes the plant’s seeds. Examples of noxious weeds include; Common baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata), Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Downy brome (Bromus tectorum), Scentless chamomile (Tripleurospermum inodorum), and many more species.


Prohibited Noxious Weeds

Prohibited Noxious weeds means a plant designated in accordance with the regulations as a prohibited noxious weed and includes the plant’s seeds. Examples of prohibited noxious weeds include; Russian knapweed (Rhaponticum repens), Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea), and many more species.

Scentless chamomile (Tripleurospermum inodorum)

Russian Knapweed
(Rhaponticum repens)

Non-Native Species

These species are not native to Alberta, they have been introduced to the area either intentionally or accidentally. They displace native vegetation species and are not regulated under the Weed Control Act.


Milk River Invasive Weed Infestations

The County of Warner Ag Service Board has conducted extensive work preventing and removing invasive weed infestations along the Milk River. More information on the work can be found here.


The following resources can be used for the identification of invasive weed species and management of infestations:

Identification Guide For Alberta Invasive Plants - Wheatland County Agricultural Department

Alberta Invasive Plant Identification Guide - Wheatland County

Transportation, Best Management Practices for Invasive Plant Species, Sask Forage Council

Grazing, Best Management Practices For Invasive Plant Species, Sask Forage Council

Hay, Best Management Practices for Invasive Plant Species, Sask Forage Council

Forage Seed, Best Management Practices for Invasive Plant Species, Sask Forage Council


The Alberta Invasive Species Council has many resources and factsheets to assist you in the identification of weed species.

Visit the Alberta Invasive Species Council Website Using This Link


The following resources can be used for the identification of native plant species:

Common Coulee Plants of Southern Alberta - John Bain, 2014