We are accumulating a library of the “most hated” invasive plants, which we regularly update. Removal and control of invasive species costs taxpayers more than 32 billion every year. Many of these plants were introduced for sale by the horticultural and landscaping industry to satisfy a seemingly insatiable desire to have the most exotic plants in our own gardens, and this industry has spent billions of dollars convincing us that these exotic plants are much more desirable than any native plant could ever be.
These plants have escaped cultivation and are now destroying native ecosystems because they outcompete native plants and provide no benefits to native wildlife. The real shame here is that many of these plants are still being sold by the horticultural industry, whose priority is the short-term gain of profit, versus the long-term benefit of ecosystem health, biodiversity, and fully functional ecosystem services, upon which all human life depends.
Since the priority of Ecosystem Gardening is to create habitat for wildlife and protect biodiversity, it is very important that you never include these plants in your garden, and to remove them from your garden ecosystem.
The “Most Hated” Plants List:
English Ivy grows fast and is easy to maintain, exactly why is continues to be sold. But it can ruin your house and destroy native habitat by shading out all native plants.
Norway Maple They grow faster than native maples and other forest trees and its dense, shallow root system makes it difficult for native seedlings to get established. They create a dense shade, under which other species cannot survive, hence my naked garden beds.
Brazilian Pepper Tree From @Gr8RedApe @CB4wildlife It will.not.die. Have burned it, buried it, smothered it w/ oil, pulled out by roots (both it & my hair). Keeps comin’ back.
Paulownia (Princess or Empress) Tree check out the comment from a “responsible” grower of this plant
Chinese Lespedeza Native to Asia and Australia, Chinese Lespedeza was first introduced to the U.S. in 1899 in Arlington, VA as an erosion control and forage plant. It spread across the Southeast, and now occurs throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Autumn and Russian Olive Topping the noxious list this week is Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) and Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), two plants in the same genus that are leaving a swath of destruction in their path.
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), a particularly noxious invader, but also used in holiday decorations by influential folks such as Martha Stewart because of its pretty berries and ability to be shaped into wreaths.
Lesser Celandine, or Fig Buttercup (Ranunculus ficaria) greens up and blooms in very early spring, forming a dense mat that prevents the native spring wildflowers from growing.
Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp) forms an impenetrable thicket, blocking out all native plants.
Bishopweed, goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) smothers everything in its path.
What’s your most hated plant? How do you feel about “responsible” growing of invasive plants? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
© 2009 – 2010, Carole Brown. All rights reserved.
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Last night I was reading a permaculture book which took a slightly different slant on the problem of non-native and invasive plants. I shall have to write about it.
Alison Kerr´s last post ..Tallgrass Prairies
Some of the really bad ones we experience here in Mass are Japanese Knotweed, Buckthorn & Swallowwort.
I especially hate garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), which is taking over the forest floor around here (Toronto), replacing our beautiful trilliums and other natives.
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Houttenyia and Bishop’s weed.
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Tina:
I’ve been pulling Bishop’s Weed from my front garden for the 10 years we’ve lived at this house. Just when I think I’ve gotten it all, more pops up. Grrrr.
Perennial Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)! I mistakenly planted some seeds that I got from my mother-in-law (whom I still like despite this!) and have been fighting it for over five years now. The first year it was lovely, and stuck to the area along the chain-mail fence I wanted covered. The second year, it went insane! Not only does it climb the fence, but it rambles out horizontally and has smothered out most of my ornamental garden in that area, and I need to cut it back at least twice a year. It’s rooted in so deeply that I can’t yank it out. What’s worse, it’s seeded itself somehow across the yard.
So now I’m pulling it out of the lawn (or mowing it), and trying to keep it from taking over my other garden beds. Even if I condoned using herbicides, I can’t because of some of the other plants in those areas. Worse, I researched it first and didn’t find any indication it could be so invasive. It’s almost as bad as the goutweed that I planted. Wish I had known what THAT one was when I did. I only discovered what it was today, and researching that is what brought me to your blog.
Chris
Johnson Grass. Introduced as animal feed after being breed by the Extension Center and widely planted. Then discovered it was not only noxious and invasive, it died if you mowed it regularly for hay. Not one of Extension’s better moments.
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