Some plants may seem like a great idea—until they take over your yard, attract pests, or refuse to behave. This list reveals 20 perennials that can cause more trouble than they’re worth, from aggressive spreaders to high-maintenance headaches. But don’t worry! For every problematic plant, there’s a better alternative that delivers beauty without the hassle. Let’s dig into the plants to avoid—and the smarter swaps that will keep your garden thriving.
1. Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Imagine a plant spreading faster than the latest gossip at a garden party. Bishop’s Weed doesn’t just grow; it conquers with its delicate white blooms. Once it takes root, expect it to march across your beds, ignoring boundaries.
Garden lovers often find themselves battling this invader, as it tends to overshadow more sophisticated flowers. It’s a perennial that demands attention and space, often at the expense of its neighbors.
If you’re not ready for a long-term commitment with regular pruning, it’s best to admire this one from afar. Let someone else host this lively guest.
2. Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
This perennial is like that friend who overstays their welcome at your party. With its vibrant purple spikes, Purple Loosestrife is a visual delight, but beneath its beauty lies a tendency to dominate.
This plant doesn’t just mingle; it takes over, spreading through wetlands like a vibrant purple wave. Its aggressive nature can push out native species, creating a monoculture with its own agenda.
Consider this plant’s allure carefully; once it settles in, saying goodbye can be a challenging endeavor. It’s a guest that turns a wetland into its personal kingdom.
3. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Romantic and classic, English Ivy might seem like a perfect choice for your garden. But don’t let its charm fool you; its tendrils are more determined than an eager beaver.
Given the chance, it won’t just cover walls, but trees too, making them more susceptible to wind and weather damage. It’s a climber that believes in the sky’s the limit.
While its aesthetic appeal is undeniable, the maintenance involved is considerable. If you’re not prepared to keep it in check, it’s best planted as a memory instead of a living fixture in your yard.
4. Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
You might think a splash of yellow is exactly what your waterside garden needs. But the Yellow Flag Iris is more like an enthusiastic painter with a giant brush.
Its cheerful yellow flowers mask an aggressive streak, spreading along waterways and outcompeting native species. It’s a gardener’s challenge that requires vigilance and regular intervention.
If you’re into gardening maintenance, this iris could keep you busy. Otherwise, it might be wiser to admire this one in the wild where it can’t disrupt your carefully curated landscape.
5. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Sometimes, a plant’s beauty is only stem-deep. Japanese Knotweed brings an exotic, bamboo-like aesthetic but comes with a reputation more persistent than a dandelion in spring.
This perennial grows aggressively, often breaking through concrete and undermining structures. It doesn’t just grow; it invades, demanding space and attention.
Dealing with this plant is like having an unexpected house guest that refuses to leave. If you want peace of mind, admire its beauty from a distance, leaving the invasiveness to someone else’s property.
6. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
With its dainty white blooms and sweet fragrance, Lily of the Valley might seem like a gardener’s dream. However, it’s more like a persistent solicitor, ringing your doorbell repeatedly.
This plant spreads rapidly, turning your garden bed into its own personal lily pad. Its invasive roots can quickly outpace your other plants, leaving them in the dust.
Unless you’re prepared to keep it contained, it’s best to enjoy this one in bouquets rather than as a permanent garden resident. Less work, more sniffing pleasure!
7. Periwinkle (Vinca minor & Vinca major)
Periwinkle might seem like the perfect way to cover a bare patch of soil, much like a comforting blanket on a cold night. However, it’s a blanket that doesn’t stop growing.
This plant has a creeping ambition, sprawling across the ground and overshadowing its neighbors with its relentless spread.
While its purple flowers are charming, the amount of control required can turn gardening into a full-time job. If you’re not ready for that level of commitment, it might be best to keep this one out of your yard.
8. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
With its button-like yellow flowers, Tansy brings a pop of color to any garden. But much like a bright spotlight, it can overwhelm and outshine everything else.
This plant is known for its aggressive spreading habit, often making itself at home where it’s not invited. Its persistence can turn a peaceful garden into a battleground of yellow.
Maintaining this perennial requires dedication and vigilance. Unless you have the time to manage its enthusiasm, it’s better suited to controlled environments rather than a free-range garden.
9. Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Wisteria’s cascading purple blooms can enchant any onlooker, turning a simple pergola into a floral spectacle. But its beauty is matched by an unyielding growth habit.
Left unchecked, this vine will embrace and overwhelm trees, fences, and anything else in its path, much like an overenthusiastic hugger at a family reunion.
While its allure is undeniable, the maintenance can be exhausting. This perennial is best left to those with the time and energy to tame its wild nature, or it might just take over the neighborhood.
10. Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
The variegated leaves of Goutweed might tempt you with their unique charm, but this plant has a reputation for being a garden interloper.
Goutweed spreads with vigor, often outpacing more delicate plants and establishing dominance wherever it’s planted. It’s like the neighbor who borrows your lawnmower without returning it.
Managing this plant requires diligence and regular upkeep. Unless you’re ready for a long-term commitment to control its wanderings, it might be best to admire it in someone else’s garden.
11. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Butterfly Bush may sound like a haven for butterflies, and while it does attract these fluttery friends, it also hogs the garden spotlight.
Its vibrant purple blooms are undeniably beautiful, but it tends to dominate, pushing out other plants and taking over space like an enthusiastic gardener with a new plot.
While the butterflies may be grateful, the rest of your garden might not be. It’s a perennial that requires management to ensure it doesn’t overshadow its fellow flora.
12. Orange Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)
Orange Daylily may seem like a cheerful addition to your garden, but its enthusiasm can quickly become overwhelming.
This plant spreads rapidly, often outcompeting native plants and turning your garden into a sea of orange.
While its flowers are lovely, the maintenance required to keep it in check can be daunting. It’s best for those who are prepared to manage its vibrant aspirations.
13. Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata)
Chameleon Plant’s colorful foliage might catch your eye, but its spreading habit can become a gardener’s nightmare.
This plant grows with abandon, covering ground and outcompeting other plants in its path.
While its colors are stunning, the effort required to keep it under control can be overwhelming. It’s best for those who enjoy frequent garden maintenance.
14. Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
Japanese Anemone’s delicate pink flowers may seem like a gentle addition to your yard, but its growth habit is anything but.
This plant spreads rapidly, taking over garden beds and leaving little room for other plants to thrive.
While its blooms are pretty, the effort to contain it can be significant. It’s best suited for gardeners who don’t mind the challenge of keeping it in check.
15. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Mugwort’s silvery-green leaves might seem like a unique addition to your garden, but this plant is known for its aggressive spread.
Once established, Mugwort can outcompete other plants, turning your garden into its personal empire.
While its foliage is attractive, the effort to manage its spread can be considerable. It’s best for those who are ready for the challenge of keeping it contained.
16. Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria)
Ground Elder’s lush green foliage might seem like the perfect ground cover, but this plant is known for its aggressive growth.
Once established, it can quickly take over, leaving little room for other plants to thrive.
While its appearance is appealing, the maintenance required to keep it in check can be significant. It’s best for those who are prepared to manage its ambitions.
17. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian Sage’s silvery foliage and purple flowers might seem like the perfect addition to a dry landscape, but its spreading habit can be overwhelming.
This plant can quickly dominate, outcompeting other plants and turning your garden into a sea of silver and purple.
While its blooms are beautiful, the effort required to keep it in check can be daunting. It’s best for those who are ready for the challenge of managing its spread.
18. Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
Obedient Plant may sound like a well-behaved garden guest, but its growth habit is anything but.
This plant spreads rapidly, taking over garden beds and leaving little room for other plants to thrive.
While its pink flowers are attractive, the effort required to contain it can be significant. It’s best suited for gardeners who don’t mind the challenge of keeping it in check.
19. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
Himalayan Balsam’s bright pink flowers might seem like a cheerful addition to your garden, but its growth habit is aggressive.
This plant can quickly overtake, outcompeting native plants and turning your garden into a sea of pink.
While its blooms are vibrant, the effort required to keep it in check can be daunting. It’s best for those who are ready for the challenge of managing its spread.
20. Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
Common Reed’s tall feathery plumes might seem like a striking addition to your garden, but its growth habit is aggressive.
This plant can quickly dominate, turning a wetland into its personal empire and outcompeting native species.
While its appearance is impressive, the effort required to manage its spread can be significant. It’s best for those who are prepared to keep it in check.
21. Wild Bergamot: A Pollinator-Friendly Alternative
Wild Bergamot attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds while supporting native ecosystems, unlike invasive Butterfly Bush.
Its fragrant lavender flowers add beauty without disrupting local plant life. This hardy perennial thrives in various soils and requires minimal maintenance.
22. Blue Star Creeper: A Low-Maintenance Ground Cover
Blue Star Creeper spreads gently without smothering other plants, making it a great alternative to aggressive Periwinkle.
Its tiny blue flowers provide charming color without the risk of overtaking garden beds. This resilient ground cover tolerates foot traffic and fills spaces beautifully.
23. Creeping Phlox: A Colorful, Controlled Option
Creeping Phlox delivers vibrant spring color while staying in control, unlike the invasive Bishop’s Weed. It forms a lush, low-growing carpet that prevents weeds without spreading aggressively.
Its drought tolerance and adaptability make it a perfect border or rock garden addition.
24. Swamp Milkweed Is A Safer Choice for Wetlands Instead
Swamp Milkweed offers stunning pink flowers and essential support for monarch butterflies, unlike the invasive Yellow Flag Iris.
It thrives in damp areas without choking out native species. This eco-friendly perennial helps restore balance in wetland and rain gardens.
25. Joe-Pye Weed: A Non-Invasive Alternative
Joe-Pye Weed brings tall, showy pink blooms to the garden without the invasive tendencies of Purple Loosestrife.
It’s a magnet for butterflies and bees, enhancing biodiversity while remaining easy to manage. This native plant adds structure and late-season color to garden beds.
26. Woodland Phlox Is A Shade-Loving Option
Woodland Phlox thrives in shaded gardens, offering delicate blue flowers without damaging trees and structures like English Ivy.
Its slow-spreading habit makes it easy to control while adding beauty to woodland areas. This native plant supports pollinators and blends well with other shade perennials.
27. Goldenrod Is A Native Pollinator Magnet
Goldenrod provides bright golden blooms in late summer, unlike the toxic and aggressive Tansy. It supports bees and butterflies, making it a crucial plant for pollinators.
Unlike its reputation, Goldenrod does not cause allergies and is a responsible native choice.
28. Virginia Bluebells Is A Beautiful Spring Bloom
Virginia Bluebells offer lovely bell-shaped flowers without the toxicity and invasive spread of Lily of the Valley.
They die back after blooming, allowing space for summer perennials to shine. These native wildflowers are perfect for shaded gardens and woodland settings.
29. False Indigo – A Hardy, Non-Invasive Alternative
False Indigo features striking blue flowers and deep roots that improve soil health, unlike the destructive Japanese Knotweed.
Its slow-growing, bushy habit prevents it from becoming a nuisance. Once established, this drought-tolerant perennial thrives with little maintenance.
30. New England Aster Is A Late-Season Showstopper
New England Aster bursts with vibrant purple flowers in fall, offering pollinators a late-season nectar source.
Unlike Mugwort, which spreads aggressively, this aster remains well-behaved and easy to manage. It pairs beautifully with other native plants, bringing seasonal color to the garden.