Gardening in New York is changing as certain plants face growing restrictions due to environmental concerns. Some beloved garden staples have become invasive threats to local ecosystems, while others pose health risks or require excessive resources.
Understanding which plants might soon be off-limits can help city gardeners make smarter, more sustainable choices for their green spaces.
1. Japanese Barberry: The Thorny Troublemaker
Once a popular hedge plant across New York, Japanese Barberry is now classified as invasive in many counties. Its dense thickets crowd out native vegetation and create perfect hiding spots for ticks that spread Lyme disease.
The bright red berries might look pretty, but they help the plant spread aggressively through bird droppings. Many nurseries have already stopped selling this thorny shrub as state regulations tighten.
2. English Ivy: Wall-Climbing Menace
English Ivy’s elegant climbing vines might seem charming on brownstone facades, but this plant is becoming increasingly restricted. Left unchecked, it strangles trees and creates ivy deserts where nothing else grows.
The plant’s rapid growth allows it to quickly overtake natural areas, smothering native plants essential for local wildlife. Several NY counties now list it as a prohibited species, with more likely to follow suit.
3. Purple Loosestrife: Beautiful But Destructive
Gardeners love Purple Loosestrife for its stunning violet flower spikes, but wetland ecosystems tell a different story. A single plant produces over two million seeds annually, allowing it to rapidly colonize wetlands and crowd out native species.
New York State already restricts its sale and transport. Wetland destruction caused by this pretty purple invader has led to stricter enforcement, with hefty fines for those caught intentionally growing it.
4. Norway Maple: The Shade Monopolizer
Norway Maples have lined New York streets for generations, but their days in gardens may be numbered. These fast-growing trees cast dense shade that prevents native plants from growing underneath, creating ecological dead zones.
Their prolific helicopter seeds spread far and wide, allowing them to invade natural woodlands. Several counties have already added Norway Maples to their restricted plant lists, with state-wide bans being considered.
5. Burning Bush: Fall’s Forbidden Favorite
The fiery red autumn foliage of Burning Bush has made it a fall landscape staple, but its future in New York gardens looks increasingly dim. Birds spread its seeds far and wide, allowing this shrub to invade natural areas and displace native vegetation.
Already banned in Massachusetts and other neighboring states, New York is moving toward similar restrictions. Gardeners are being encouraged to choose native alternatives like Virginia Sweetspire or native blueberry bushes instead.
6. Bradford Pear: Pretty But Problematic
Bradford Pears burst into clouds of white blossoms each spring, but their beauty masks serious problems. Originally bred to be sterile, these trees cross-pollinate with other pear varieties, creating thorny thickets that invade natural areas.
Their weak branch structure makes them hazardous during storms, causing property damage. Several states have already banned their sale, and New York environmental agencies are pushing for similar restrictions to protect native ecosystems.
7. Bamboo: The Backyard Boundary-Crosser
Running bamboo varieties might create instant privacy screens, but they’re becoming increasingly regulated as they spread underground, popping up in neighbors’ yards without permission. Some varieties can grow over a foot daily during summer months!
Several New York municipalities have already enacted bamboo ordinances with hefty fines. Homeowners can be held financially responsible for damage to neighboring properties, making this once-popular screen plant a risky garden choice.
8. Russian Olive: The Silvery Invader
Russian Olive trees stand out with their distinctive silvery leaves, but conservationists view them as serious threats. These drought-tolerant trees displace native vegetation along waterways and alter natural habitat for wildlife.
Their thorny branches and prolific berries help them spread rapidly across disturbed areas. Already on New York’s invasive species watchlist, Russian Olives face increasing restrictions as state agencies work to protect natural waterways and fields from this silvery invader.
9. Privet: The Privacy Hedge Problem
Privet hedges have defined property lines across New York for generations, but their environmental impact is leading to growing restrictions. Birds spread their small black berries, allowing privet to invade forests where it forms dense thickets that block sunlight from reaching native plants.
Several privet species are already on New York’s invasive plant watchlist. Gardeners seeking privacy are now being steered toward native alternatives like American hornbeam or bayberry that provide similar benefits without ecological harm.
10. Water Hyacinth: The Floating Flower Menace
Water Hyacinth’s lovely lavender blooms make it popular for water gardens, but its aggressive growth can completely choke waterways. A single plant can multiply into 60,000 plants in a single growing season!
While cold New York winters once kept this tropical invader in check, warming temperatures have extended its survival range. State environmental officials are increasingly restricting water garden plants like this to prevent catastrophic escapes into natural waterways where removal costs millions.