Learn the definition of invasive vs aggressive plants, and what you can do to stop their spread in your yard.
What Are Invasive Plants—And How to Get Rid of Them
Updated on Aug. 07, 2024
The tag at the garden center may say that a plant is “long blooming, low maintenance and fast growing.” If this description seems too good to be true, it’s because it sometimes is. Many plants once recommended for the garden have since left our carefully curated landscapes and invaded nearby natural areas. Once an invasive plant species gains a foothold in natural spaces, it may crowd out the native plants that birds, pollinators and other wildlife depend upon.
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Definition of Invasive vs Aggressive Plants
When talking to gardeners, reading books and watching videos or shows about gardening, you often see plants described as aggressive or invasive. These words are used interchangeably all the time, but it is important to know the definition and difference.
Aggressive plants are the bullies of the garden. They crowd out their timid neighbors and can quickly overtake the garden bed when left unchecked. Aggressive plants may be native or nonnative, but they’ll stay within the boundaries of your landscape.
Invasive plants are usually described as nonnative plants that are also aggressive but leave a landscape’s boundaries and invade nearby natural areas. They become established and spread throughout these natural spaces, causing economic and environmental harm, and in some cases, harm to human health.
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Why Invasive Plants Are a Problem
Certain invasive plants, such as honeysuckle and barberry, were once popular landscape plants due to their attributes, vigor and adaptability, which also allow them to outcompete and displace native plants. Invasive plants spread by seeds, rhizomes, roots or portions of the plant transported by birds, animals and people.
Growing even one or two invasive plants in your garden, shoreline planting or pond can have an impact on the nearby natural spaces. As the native plant populations dwindle and invasive plant populations grow, the natural habitat begins to degrade and plant diversity decreases in these areas. This disruption in the ecosystem limits critical resources needed by native insects, birds and other wildlife.
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How to Get Rid of Invasive Plant Species
Always check before purchasing any plant. Your local university extension service and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) usually have lists of plants that are prohibited or should be avoided in your area, state or province. Visit the websites of the USDA National Invasive Species Information Center, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, and the Invasive Species Centre in Canada to find out more about invasive plants in your specific area.
Although regulations for the sale, purchase and possession of invasive species are in place in most areas, some online sellers are not aware of, up-to-date with or concerned about following existing state and federal regulations. Just because you can purchase a plant does not mean it is allowed in your state, so check before placing your order.
Don’t share aggressive or invasive plants. Your friends don’t need them, and it could lead to many more landscapes being inundated by these species.
Removing invasive plants is a big task. Consult your state’s extension service or DNR websites, as most have tips on managing various invasive plants.
Start removing the invaders at the outer edge of the infestation and work your way to the center of the population. Continually monitor and manage these plants as it is not a once-and-done endeavor. If we work together to avoid and remove troublesome plants, we can make a difference.
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Common Invasive Plants in North America
Trees and Shrubs
- Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia
- Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima
- Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia
- Tamarisk Tamarix spp.
- Bush honeysuckle Lonicera spp.
Flowering Plants
- Common reed Phragmites australis
- Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica
- Periwinkle Vinca
- Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Sources
- USDA National Invasive Species Information Center
- Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
- Invasive Species Centre in Canada
