Invasives - Real Garden Problem or Overhyped?

An invasive plant has the ability to thrive and spread aggressively outside its natural range. A naturally aggressive plant may be especially invasive when it is introduced to a new habitat. An invasive species that colonizes a new area may gain an ecological edge since the insects, diseases, and foraging animals that naturally keep its growth in check in its native range are not present in its new habitat.

Some invasive plants are worse than others. Many invasive plants continue to be admired by gardeners who may not be aware of their weedy nature. Others are recognized as weeds but property owners fail to do their part in preventing their spread. Some do not even become invasive until they are neglected for a long time. Invasive plants are not all equally invasive. Some only colonize small areas and do not do so aggressively. Others may spread and come to dominate large areas in just a few years.

Which invasives should we worry about?

What are a gardener's responsibilities when it comes to invasives?

Who decides what's an invasive and what's a unique garden plant?

Weigh in on these and related questions below...

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Permalink Reply by Betty on April 30, 2009 at 12:44pm

Creeping Charlie is the bane of my existance. I know it is easy to pull up but it has totally taken over my back yard.

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Permalink Reply by Sue Holcomb on May 13, 2009 at 4:33pm

I work with KC Wildlands and we spent countless hours cutting Japanese honeysuckle out of public landscapes. When people plant things that are spread by birds eating and dropping seeds, they need to be particularly aware. Wintercreeper is another plant that has invaded native woodlands and is difficult to control.
Sadly, these plants are still be sold by some nurseries.

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Permalink Reply by Ginny Balistreri on May 14, 2009 at 6:23am

I was always facinated as a child with "Chinese Lanterns". My mom would display them with dried flower arrangements and I loved the bright orange papery husks,so I decided to plant a few seeds. To make the long story short...I had to use roundup to control them. They have even invaded the lawn.

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Permalink Reply by Mark McRoberts on July 15, 2009 at 11:15pm

Locust trees will grow sprouts off of roots. We have locust trees in our timber and they are a problem.

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Permalink Reply by Lois Ho on July 16, 2009 at 10:05am

Thanks for your comments! What's the best way to rid the gardens of them? We've been cutting them and using root killer. I know this might/will kill the tree, but if its the tree we think it is, this particular specimen is ugly anyway!!