Invasive Plants & What to Grow Instead

Reduce problems in your landscape 

One of the biggest challenges gardeners face is controlling unwanted plants. Weeds and other problematic plants are introduced into garden areas in a number of ways. Seeds can be carried by wind currents or carried by wildlife. Dormant seeds buried beneath the soil may germinate when the soil is disturbed by plowing or digging. Some garden plants have invasive growth habits and must be controlled so that they do not displace other plants.

Invasive plant species have become a major problem in recent years with increased development, shrinking natural habitats and a changing climate. Many introduced plants from other parts of the world have displaced native species and disrupted local ecosystems.

Gardeners can do their part by keeping weeds under control and planting invasive species. Learn more about some of the most invasive plants and what to plant instead.

1. Bradford pear (Pyrus galleriana)

Introduced from Asia in the 1960s, this deciduous tree became a popular street tree for its rapid growth rate, showy flowers and fall color. Also known as collard pear, these trees fell in favor for their unpleasant flower scent, weak growth habit and aggressive qualities. The small fruits are eaten and dispersed by birds, and the prickly seedlings germinate and form dense thickets that are difficult to destroy.

2. Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

Imported from Asia in the mid-1800s, this deciduous shrub is cultivated for its fiery-red fall foliage, ease of care, and adaptability to a variety of growing conditions. The small red berries are eaten by seed-dispersing birds, and the seedlings are naturalized in open grasslands and woodlands, where they crowd native plants.

3. Butterfly Bush (Pudlia davidii)

Butterfly bush is a deciduous shrub native to Asia that produces attractive flower spikes that attract butterflies and other insect pollinators. The lightweight seeds are dispersed long distances on wind currents and remain viable for several years. Seedlings grow quickly, crowding out native vegetation along roadsides, riverbanks and open forests.

4. English ivy (Hedera helix)

This woody vine is grown for its attractive maple-like foliage and its versatility as a sun or shade plant. Brought to the Americas by European colonists in the 1700s, the plant escaped cultivation and overtook forests and disturbed sites, where it quickly grew to crowd out native plants, shrubs, and trees. Birds eat the berries and disperse the seeds through their droppings. Vine tendrils with gum-like roots forming at each end are difficult to remove due to high fruit production and vigorous root systems at maturity.

5. Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

Introduced from Japan in the 1800s, Japanese barberry is an ornamental deciduous shrub with small dagger-like leaves, sharp thorns, colorful berries and fall color. The plants form dense thickets that crowd out native plants and harbor ticks that carry Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Berries are consumed by seed-dispersing songbirds.

6. Japanese Barerry (Lonicera japonica)

Japanese honeysuckle was imported from Asia in the 1800s as an ornamental plant with corrosion-control properties. This woody vine produces yellow and white trumpet-shaped flowers that are intensely fragrant. The small black berries are eaten and dispersed by birds and small mammals. Vegetation is difficult to remove.

7. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

This perennial herb produces large oval leaves, thick bamboo-like stems and delicate clusters of white flowers. It was introduced from Asia in the 1800s as an ornamental plant to help with stem erosion. Plants have escaped cultivation to occupy wet marshes, stream banks, drainage ditches, and disturbed sites. One of the world's most invasive plants, Japanese knotweed's aggressive growth habit and tenacious rhizome roots that can break even on sidewalks make Japanese knotweed difficult to eradicate.