Georgia gardens are full of beautiful plants, but some might land on the “do not plant” list soon.
These 13 species are being watched closely because of their invasive tendencies and potential impact on local ecosystems. I’ve seen a few of them take over yards in no time, and it’s easy to see why restrictions are coming.
Check this list before your next planting so you don’t run into trouble.
1. Kudzu
The infamous “vine that ate the South” continues its relentless march across Georgia. This aggressive climber can grow up to a foot per day, smothering native trees and shrubs beneath its leafy canopy.
Georgia lawmakers are eyeing stricter controls as kudzu damages power lines and infrastructure. Despite its medicinal uses, the ecological harm may soon make this Asian import completely off-limits for home landscapes.
2. Chinese Privet
Found in countless Georgia yards, this seemingly innocent shrub escapes cultivation with alarming speed. Birds love its berries, spreading seeds far beyond garden boundaries into natural areas where it forms impenetrable thickets.
Throughout Georgia, privet chokes out native understory plants and reduces wildlife habitat quality. Despite its popularity as a hedge plant, environmental concerns may soon lead to a complete ban.
3. English Ivy
That elegant climbing vine adorning brick walls across Georgia harbors a destructive secret. When it escapes into forests, English ivy climbs and eventually kills trees while forming dense groundcover that prevents native plant regeneration.
Georgia conservationists have documented significant forest damage from this European transplant. Its aggressive growth habit and resistance to control methods have put it high on the potential ban list for home landscapes.
4. Japanese Honeysuckle
Sweet-smelling but sinister, this twining vine has escaped Georgia gardens to become a major forest pest. Its rapid growth allows it to climb and strangle young trees while forming dense ground cover that prevents forest regeneration.
Across Georgia’s woodlands, this Asian import disrupts natural plant communities and wildlife habitats. Despite childhood memories of sucking nectar from its flowers, its ecological impact may soon make it illegal to plant.
5. Bamboo
Running bamboo varieties create nightmares for Georgia homeowners when they jump property lines. Underground rhizomes can travel 30 feet or more, sending up new shoots that break through asphalt and concrete with surprising force.
Georgia neighborhoods have seen increasing conflicts over invasive bamboo. Without proper containment, these Asian grasses become nearly impossible to eradicate, prompting officials to consider restricting certain aggressive species.
6. Bradford Pear
Those pretty white flowering trees lining Georgia suburbs hide a dark secret. Bradford pears cross-pollinate with other pear varieties to produce viable seeds, creating thorny thickets that crowd out native vegetation in fields and forests.
Several Georgia counties already discourage new plantings as wild populations explode. Despite their spring beauty, these Asian trees are ecological troublemakers that may soon be completely banned from the nursery trade.
7. Autumn Olive
With silvery leaves and fragrant flowers, this shrub was once promoted for wildlife habitat in Georgia. Unfortunately, birds spread its abundant berries, allowing autumn olive to invade natural areas where it outcompetes native plants.
Georgia’s diverse ecosystems suffer as this Asian import alters soil chemistry through nitrogen fixation. Though still sold in some nurseries, growing concerns about its ecological impact may soon lead to restrictions.
8. Chinese Wisteria
Those spectacular purple cascades adorning Georgia gardens become monsters in the wild. Chinese wisteria’s woody vines can reach 10 inches in diameter, climbing and eventually killing mature trees while spreading through both seeds and runners.
Throughout Georgia forests, this Asian beauty causes significant damage to natural communities. Despite its ornamental appeal, its aggressive growth habits may soon make it a forbidden garden plant.
9. Nandina
Those evergreen shrubs with bright red berries in Georgia gardens pose a hidden threat to wildlife. Birds eat nandina berries and spread the seeds into natural areas, while the berries themselves contain cyanide compounds toxic to cedar waxwings and other species.
Georgia’s native birds suffer from this Asian import’s deceptively dangerous fruit. Growing ecological concerns may soon lead officials to restrict or ban this common landscape plant despite its ornamental value.
10. Japanese Stiltgrass
This innocent-looking lawn invader spreads rapidly through Georgia’s shaded areas. Each plant produces thousands of seeds that remain viable in soil for years, while deer avoid eating it, giving stiltgrass a competitive advantage over native plants.
Georgia’s forest floors are increasingly dominated by this Asian annual grass. Its ability to form dense monocultures that exclude native species has caught regulators’ attention, potentially leading to restrictions on its transport and sale.
11. Mimosa Tree
With feathery leaves and puffy pink flowers, the mimosa charms many Georgia gardeners. However, its prolific seeds sprout readily along waterways and disturbed areas, creating thickets that displace native vegetation.
Georgia’s riparian zones are particularly vulnerable to this Asian tree’s invasion. Despite its ornamental appeal, growing ecological concerns may soon lead to restrictions on planting this deceptively pretty tree.
12. Porcelain Berry
Often mistaken for native grape, this aggressive vine produces distinctive multi-colored berries that birds spread throughout Georgia landscapes. Its rapid growth allows it to climb and smother trees while forming dense mats that prevent forest regeneration.
Georgia’s natural areas increasingly battle this Asian invader as it escapes from gardens. Its attractive berries and fall color may not save it from upcoming regulatory restrictions as officials recognize its ecological threat.
13. Tree of Heaven
Despite its heavenly name, this fast-growing tree creates hellish conditions in Georgia ecosystems. It produces chemicals that prevent other plants from growing nearby while sending up numerous root suckers that form dense clones.
Georgia’s urban areas particularly struggle with this Asian invader. Adding to concerns, it serves as the preferred host for spotted lanternfly, an emerging invasive pest, making it increasingly likely to face strict regulation.