Gardening brings so much joy—but not every pretty plant deserves a spot in your yard. I learned the hard way when a “harmless” groundcover took over half my garden and started creeping into my neighbor’s lawn.
Some popular ornamentals don’t stay where you plant them. They spread aggressively, crowding out native plants and throwing local ecosystems off balance.
The worst part? Removing them isn’t easy or cheap. So let’s look at which beauties are actually bullies—and what you can grow instead to keep your garden gorgeous and responsible.
1. Purple Loosestrife: The Wetland Destroyer
Once sold as a garden beauty, this purple-flowered menace now devastates wetlands across North America. Each plant produces over two million seeds annually, creating dense monocultures that choke out native vegetation and destroy wildlife habitat.
I mistakenly planted some in my pond garden years ago, thinking the tall purple spikes would attract butterflies. Within two seasons, it had jumped to the neighborhood creek and required a community removal effort.
The dense root systems make removal incredibly difficult once established. If you spot this in your garden, remove it immediately and dispose of it in sealed bags – never compost invasive plants.
2. English Ivy: The Wall-Destroying Climber
Those charming ivy-covered buildings hide a destructive secret. English ivy’s aerial rootlets damage mortar, create moisture problems, and can eventually topple trees by adding weight and blocking sunlight.
The aggressive vines spread both by birds eating berries and by vegetative growth. A single patch can expand 15 feet yearly, smothering everything in its path and creating perfect habitat for rats and mosquitoes.
My grandmother’s small ivy accent became a neighborhood problem within five years. We spent countless weekends pulling vines from fences, trees, and undergrowth. Native ground covers provide the same aesthetic without the destruction.
3. Japanese Barberry: The Tick Magnet
The burgundy foliage might look attractive in landscapes, but this thorny shrub harbors a disturbing secret. Research shows Japanese barberry creates ideal microhabitats for ticks that carry Lyme disease, increasing their populations significantly.
Birds spread the berries far beyond garden boundaries, creating impenetrable thorny thickets in natural areas. The dense growth crowds out native understory plants and alters soil chemistry.
Many nurseries still sell this plant despite its banned status in several states. I removed mine after learning it was contributing to local woodland degradation. The thorns made removal a painful experience – another reason to choose native alternatives.
4. Bradford Pear: The Stinky Spring Menace
Those pretty white spring flowers come with a notorious fishy smell and a host of problems. Bradford pears were originally marketed as sterile, but cross-pollination with other pear varieties created fertile offspring that now invade fields and forests.
Weak branch structure means these trees frequently split during storms, creating property damage and safety hazards. The dense shade and root competition prevent native plants from growing underneath.
After watching three neighborhood Bradford pears split during a mild thunderstorm, I realized the short-lived beauty wasn’t worth the risk. Native flowering trees offer spring beauty without the invasive tendencies or structural problems.
5. Japanese Honeysuckle: The Woodland Strangler
The sweet scent might trigger childhood nostalgia, but this aggressive vine strangles trees and smothers entire forest floors. Japanese honeysuckle grows up to 30 feet yearly, creating dense mats that block sunlight from reaching native plants.
My family battled this vine for years after birds spread it from a neighbor’s trellis to our wooded lot. Even after multiple removal efforts, new sprouts continued emerging from the extensive root system.
The semi-evergreen nature gives it an advantage over native species in winter months. If you inherited this plant, consider replacing it with native vine species that provide similar benefits without the ecosystem damage.
6. Chinese Wisteria: The Beautiful Destroyer
Those cascading purple flowers hide a monster that can crush buildings and trees with its woody vines. Chinese wisteria stems can grow to 10 inches thick, with enough strength to strangle large trees and pull down structures.
The root system spreads aggressively underground, sending up new shoots far from the original plant. I’ve watched a single wisteria vine lift deck boards and crack foundation walls at my cousin’s home.
Removal often requires years of persistence, as the plant resprouts vigorously when cut. American wisteria offers similar beauty without the aggressive growth habit – a perfect example of how native alternatives can satisfy our aesthetic desires safely.
7. Burning Bush: The Forest Invader
Fall’s brilliant red foliage makes burning bush a popular landscape choice, but birds spread the seeds into natural areas where they form dense thickets. These thickets displace native understory plants that wildlife depends on for food and shelter.
The adaptability to various light conditions makes it particularly problematic in forest edges and openings. Several northeastern states have banned sales because of its impact on forest ecosystems.
After finding dozens of seedlings in the woodland behind my house, I realized my single specimen was changing the forest composition. Native alternatives like Virginia sweetspire or blueberry bushes provide spectacular fall color without threatening natural areas.
8. Norwegian Maple: The Shade Dominator
Look up at city streets and you’ll likely see these popular shade trees, but their dense canopy and shallow roots create a growing desert underneath. The prolific winged seeds spread far beyond planting sites, invading woodlands where they outcompete native sugar maples.
The tree’s distinctive trait is the milky sap that appears when leaf stems are broken – a quick identification tip. My neighborhood park lost most of its spring wildflowers after Norwegian maples established and created too much shade.
Many cities have stopped planting these trees but existing ones continue spreading seeds. Native red maples or oaks provide excellent shade without suppressing forest diversity.
9. Privet Hedge: The Bird-Spread Barrier
That neatly trimmed hedge might look tidy in suburban yards, but privet berries spread far into natural areas. Birds eat the berries and deposit seeds throughout forests, where privet forms dense thickets that block sunlight from reaching native wildflowers.
The rapid growth means privet can quickly take over large areas. In parts of the southeastern United States, it’s transformed diverse forest understories into privet monocultures.
My nature walks through local preserves now include volunteer privet-pulling sessions. The small seedlings pull easily, but established plants require serious effort to remove. Native boxwood or inkberry holly can create similar hedges without the invasive impact.
10. Butterfly Bush: The Pollinator Deceiver
Despite its pollinator-friendly name, butterfly bush offers little ecological value compared to native alternatives. The nectar attracts butterflies, but the plant doesn’t support caterpillars, breaking the crucial life cycle chain.
Each flower spike produces thousands of tiny seeds that spread easily on wind and water. In the Pacific Northwest and parts of the East Coast, butterfly bush has escaped gardens to colonize stream banks and disturbed areas.
After learning about its limited wildlife value, I replaced mine with native buttonbush and Joe-Pye weed. The butterfly activity actually increased once I provided plants that support the complete life cycle rather than just adult feeding.
11. Periwinkle (Vinca): The Forest Floor Carpet
Those pretty blue flowers and evergreen leaves create a maintenance-free ground cover that unfortunately doesn’t stay put. Periwinkle spreads through forests and natural areas, forming dense mats that prevent tree seedlings and native wildflowers from emerging.
The trailing stems root wherever they touch soil, allowing rapid colonization of new areas. After a garden cleanup dumping incident, I watched periwinkle transform part of our local nature preserve into a green desert within just three years.
Once established, complete removal requires years of persistent effort. Native ground covers like wild ginger or woodland phlox provide similar benefits without taking over natural areas.
12. Native Oakleaf Hydrangea: Beauty With Benefits
Unlike its invasive cousins, this native hydrangea offers four-season interest without spreading beyond your garden. The dramatic white flower clusters transform from summer showstoppers to russet fall accents.
The large, oak-shaped leaves turn brilliant burgundy in autumn, adding another season of color. Birds benefit from the seeds while the exfoliating bark provides winter interest when other plants have gone dormant.
My oakleaf hydrangea has thrived in partial shade for years without requiring special care or causing problems. It’s become a focal point that draws compliments and supports local wildlife – exactly what we want from landscape plants.
13. Eastern Redbud: Spring’s Pink Welcome
This native tree offers the same spring flower power as Bradford pear without any invasive tendencies. The bright pink blooms appear directly on branches before leaves emerge, creating a stunning early spring display.
Heart-shaped leaves follow the flowers and provide habitat for numerous butterfly species. The small stature makes redbud perfect for urban yards, patios, or as understory trees in larger landscapes.
My front yard redbud has become a neighborhood highlight each April. The flowers support early pollinators while the seeds feed birds – ecological benefits that invasive ornamentals simply can’t match. For smaller spaces, look for compact cultivars that stay under 15 feet tall.
14. Bottlebrush Buckeye: Shade-Loving Showstopper
This native shrub thrives in the difficult dry shade conditions where many invasive plants get their foothold. The dramatic white flower spikes resemble bottlebrushes and attract butterflies and hummingbirds during summer months when many other shrubs have finished blooming.
The broad, spreading habit makes it excellent for woodland edges or as a living privacy screen. Fall brings golden yellow foliage that brightens shady corners of the garden.
My bottlebrush buckeye has slowly expanded to create a beautiful colony without becoming invasive or requiring constant pruning. It’s the perfect example of how native plants can be both well-behaved and beautiful.
15. Aromatic Aster: The Butterfly Magnet
Replace invasive butterfly bush with this native late-bloomer that supports the entire butterfly life cycle. The lavender-blue flowers create a purple cloud effect in fall gardens when many other plants have finished blooming.
Unlike aggressive ornamentals, aromatic aster stays in well-behaved clumps that gradually expand without taking over. The fragrant foliage naturally repels deer and rabbits – a bonus for suburban gardeners.
My patch started as three small plants that now reliably host dozens of butterflies each September. The seed heads provide winter interest and food for birds long after the flowers have faded. For small spaces, look for compact cultivars under two feet tall.
16. Virginia Sweetspire: The Four-Season Wonder
This adaptable native shrub offers the same brilliant fall color as burning bush without the invasive tendencies. The arching branches carry fragrant white flower spikes in spring that pollinators adore.
Summer’s glossy green foliage transitions to spectacular burgundy-red in fall, lasting well into winter in many regions. The compact size makes it perfect for foundations, borders, or mass plantings.
My sweetspire handles everything from occasional flooding to summer drought without complaint. It’s gradually formed a tidy colony that stays exactly where I want it, unlike the invasive alternatives that require constant boundary enforcement. For wet areas, few shrubs perform better.
17. American Wisteria: The Well-Behaved Climber
Get the romantic cascading flowers without the aggressive behavior by choosing this native alternative to Chinese wisteria. The blue-purple flower clusters appear later than their invasive cousins but offer the same dramatic effect.
The more manageable growth habit means American wisteria won’t crush structures or strangle trees. It establishes more slowly but still provides excellent coverage for pergolas, arbors, and fences.
My backyard arbor has been covered with American wisteria for eight years without any structural damage or unwanted spreading. The bonus of growing later in the season means the flowers rarely get damaged by late spring frosts – a common problem with the Asian species.