Most Hated Plants

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.

Why Invasive Plants are such a problem:

Learning From Our Mistakes–are new hybrids of invasive plants really sterile? Listening to the “experts” can get your wildlife habitat in trouble.

Sentimentality and Silk Trees–guest post by Ursula Vernon discusses why we get so sentimental over invasive plants

Doug Tallamy speaks out about the dangers of invasive plants and answers critics

The “Most Hated” Plants List:

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.

Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp) forms an impenetrable thicket, blocking out all native plants.

Bishopweed, goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) smothers everything in its path.

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.

Bush Honeysuckle–rapidly colonizes an area, wiping out native plants and wildlife habitat. It is really difficult to get rid of once it gets established.

Butterfly Bush–yes that plant that every butterfly gardening book tells you to plant, is highly invasive. Please do NOT plant this! The so-called experts are very wrong about this plant

• Butterfly Bush is Invasive, Do NOT Plant–when there are so many better native nectar plants for Monarchs and other Butterflies, why do some conservation organizations continue to promote this one?
• Best Native Nectar Plants for Monarchs and Other Butterflies–a list of suggestions from wildlife gardeners around the country to provide nectar for butterflies

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.

Chinese Wisteria–grows very fast and strangles out everything in its path. Can collapse your arbors, fences, and even ruin your siding, let alone the havoc it is wreaking to native habitats. Plus it is VERY difficult to get rid of.

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.

Japanese Barberry is not only destroying native wildlife habitat, but may also pose a threat to human public health.

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.

Multi-flora Rose will quickly cover natural areas, preventing native plants from growing, but Mother Nature may be taking a hand in dealing with this highly invasive plant.

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.

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.

Paulownia (Princess or Empress) Tree check out the comment from a “responsible” grower of this plant