Don’t Grow These 21 Plants In Your Landscape

Landscape gardens should be beautiful, functional, and good for the local ecosystem. They should also be relatively easy to maintain. Along with their looks, they should attract beneficial critters while not competing with local plant life. 

If you’re thinking about what plants to use in your landscape this year, stick to native perennials and annuals, or foreign species that don’t grow out of control. And, by all means, avoid invasive species that could take over your garden or anything that can poison your pets. 

Let’s dive into the 21 plants to avoid planting in your landscape this year. Don’t grow these species if you want to cultivate a healthy and low-maintenance ecosystem in your yard. 

Common Bamboo

	botanical name Bambusa vulgaris
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 40’
	hardiness zones 9-12

Bamboo is one of my favorite plants. But rather than growing it in my landscape, I prefer to admire it in the wild. Bamboo is a tall grass that’s planted extensively around the tropics and subtropics for its sturdy wood, edible shoots, and fast-growing nature. The same properties that make it a favorite for builders, furniture makers, and farmers, are what make it difficult for home landscape gardening. 

Growing this plant is easy if you live in a tropical or subtropical region. However, it will produce shoots at an alarming rate of 12 inches per day. Before you know it, you’ll have bamboo spreading throughout your yard and encroaching on your neighboring landscapes. 

If you love yard work and don’t mind constant maintenance, go ahead and grow this remarkably useful plant. You’ll have tons of edible shoots and natural fencing to work with. 

Butterfly Bush

	botanical name Buddleja davidii
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 12’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Butterfly bushes are beautiful, but there are several reasons not to plant them in your landscape. First, they’re invasive and compete with other plants, especially native species. In many states, such as Washington and Oregon, they’re considered noxious weeds. 

Before you know it, your Buddleja shrubs will spread throughout your garden uncontrollably. The lightweight seeds will sail away with the wind and land in your neighborhood during the summer. Soon, you’ll see butterfly bushes sprouting up where they don’t belong. 

Once these shrubs invade gardens and yards, they outgrow other species and disrupt the local ecosystem. Pretty soon, you’ll have less natural diversity in your landscape. If you must grow one, opt for sterile cultivars like ‘Asian Moon’, ‘Miss Ruby’, or selections from the Flutterby™ series.

Instead of growing these colorful yet problematic shrubs, plant Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) shrubs instead. These tall shrubs can grow in zones 5 through 9 and reach up to 12 feet tall. They won’t invade your landscape and attract beneficial pollinators. 

Pampas Grass

	botanical name Cortaderia selloana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12’
	hardiness zones 6-10

Pampas grass is native to South America and grows wild in the grasslands and temperate hills known as the ‘pampas. ’ In Argentina and Uruguay, it’s one of the most common native perennials. Outside of its homeland, it’s become a popular ornamental shrub for creating hedges and garden borders. 

As beautiful and easy as it is to grow, it’s incredibly invasive. It grows at a stunning rate and can reach heights of over 10 feet very quickly. 

What makes it even worse is its razer-sharp foliage. Safety gear like gloves, eye protection, and long sleeves may not be enough to protect your painful scratches. 

As an alternative to the invasive pampas grass, try growing native grasses instead. Some species, such as ‘Frosted Explosion’ grass, can be just as decorative and not invasive. 

English Ivy

	botanical name Hedera helix
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height Up to 80’
	hardiness zones 4-13

English ivy is a popular ornamental plant for creating lush landscapes and green walls. You’ll see it climbing trees, building facades, and blanketing landscapes in foliage. As easy as this plant is to grow, it comes with a lot of problems. 

The plant grows vigorously and eventually chokes out other plant life in your landscape. If it climbs trees, it blocks out sunlight and slows photosynthesis in your trees. Over time, the host tree will experience stunted growth and even death in extreme cases. 

When left as ground cover, the plant quickly encroaches on other garden species and competes for resources. Managing this overpowering growth is not easy for busy gardeners. 

Instead of planting English ivy, try growing wild ginger instead. It’s beautiful, easy to grow, and won’t invade your landscape. 

Winged Burning Bush

	botanical name Euonymus alatus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 20’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Winged burning bush is a beautiful ornamental plant that should be ignored. Its aggressive growing habits could threaten your landscape and your neighbors. 

The plant has a habit of competing with native species. It spreads quickly and eventually carries over to native habitats and forests. Before long, small animals carry the plant’s seeds to surrounding forests and natural areas. When the invasive plants mature, they block out the sun for many natives. 

Because of this, winged burning bush is banned in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In other states, it’s considered a noxious weed, and most landscape gardeners avoid it. 

Instead of planting this environmentally harmful plant, try growing black chokeberry instead. They produce berries that small animals and birds can’t get enough of. Plus, they’re native to North America and are valuable additions to your local ecosystem. 

Autumn Olive

	botanical name Elaeagnus umbellata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 16’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Autumn olives are vigorous shrubs that have a habit of outperforming native species. Once established, they’ll drown out many species in their native habitat and invade local ecosystems. 

These fast-growing shrubs produce over 200,000 seeds annually, which are spread by birds and mammals. They’ll thrive in almost any soil type. The first autumn olives made it to the U.S. in the early 19th century. Since then, it’s spread throughout the East Coast as an invasive species. 

Instead of planting autumn olives, try growing American beautyberries instead. These perennial shrubs are easy to grow and maintain and look stunning with their lush foliage and deep purple berries. 

Bradford Pear

	botanical name Pyrus calleryana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 50’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Bradford pears, also known as Callery pears, are used way too often in landscapes across the U.S. This broadleaf deciduous plant is native to Asia. Since its introduction to the U.S., it’s become a nuisance and a threat to native ecosystems. 

Once established, they create smelly flowers that can be repulsive. They also have short lifespans and create tons of plant debris in your garden as they age. They spread into wild areas easily.

Instead of growing these foul-smelling and invasive plants, try growing cherry trees instead. Cherries can be wonderful flowering additions to your landscape garden. Aside from Prunus avium, they’re not invasive and make wonderful additions to a healthy garden biome. 

Common Buckthorn

	botanical name Rhamnus cathartica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 30’
	hardiness zones 2-7

The common buckthorn may be a tempting ornamental plant, but it comes with some serious problems. First, it’s a prolific grower. Within a season, it will shade out native ground cover and destroy other landscape plants. 

Controlling the plant’s growth is challenging, but controlling its spread is almost impossible. Its suckers form dense new plants and its seeds are distributed far and wide by animals. It can take over an entire area and out-compete even the strongest native perennials. 

Instead of planting this invasive plant, try growing thornless blackberry bushes instead. These plants are perfect for creating natural hedges and fencing. They also produce tons of delicious fruit and provide colorful blooms for helpful pollinators. 

Japanese Barberry

	botanical name Berberis thunbergii
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 6’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Japanese barberry plants produce stunning fall foliage and red berries that animals love. However, it’s best to avoid planting them in your landscape garden. 

Like many of the plants on this list, Japanese barberries quickly spread outside your yard. When they establish themselves in native woodlands and fields, they overpopulate and compete with native plants for resources. 

Instead of growing this invasive and harmful plant, try growing blueberries instead. Blueberries are easy to maintain and produce tons of edible berries for you and local wildlife. They’re also wonderful for attracting pollinators to your garden. 

Tree of Heaven

	botanical name Ailanthus altissima
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 40-80’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Tree of heavens are native to Asia, where they’re common deciduous trees in landscape gardens. They can grow over 70 feet tall and reproduce via their suckers. Eventually, they form dense and uncontrollable clusters of foliage that compete with other plants for nutrients and water. 

Once established, it’s hard to rid your yard of these fast-growing trees. In a season, they spread an alarming amount of seeds, which are picked up and carried away by animals. Because of this, many states list them as invasive species to avoid planting. 

Instead of planting them, try growing native hardwoods like oaks and maples. These trees will be more beneficial in your landscape and easier to contain. 

Weeping Lovegrass

	botanical name Eragrostis curvula
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height Up to 5’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Weeping lovegrass may add texture to your landscape. However, it’s best to ignore this invasive plant. One of the reasons is its ability to spread far and wide. It produces hundreds of thousands of tiny seeds which get carried away by the wind. When they germinate, they’ll quickly overtake native plants for resources. 

Instead of growing weeping lovegrass, consider planting other grasses such as Sorghastrum nutans. It has a similar growing habit and produces beautiful golden seed heads. Instead of reproducing abundantly, it tends to stay put. It’s also a great plant for attracting pollinators. 

Winter Creeper

	botanical name Euonymus fortunei
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-32’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Winter creeper is a broadleaf evergreen that looks gorgeous as a ground cover. However, it’s hard to control and will out-compete native plants and other landscape ornamentals. 

The plant grows fast and produces long vines with dense foliage that radiate out along the ground. It’s hard to control its growth, and eventually, it can suffocate other plants. Before long, you’ll have trouble eradicating it before it makes its way to neighboring yards, forests, and gardens. 

Instead of growing winter creeper, try planting noninvasive ground covers instead. These include three-leaved stonecrops and colorful creeping phlox plants. 

Foxgloves

	botanical name Digitalis purpurea
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Foxgloves are some of my favorite flowering plants. Their tall stalks look amazing while covered in colorful bell-shaped blooms. They’re also some of the best flowers you can plant for attracting bees and hummingbirds to your garden. 

With all their benefits, you should probably avoid them if you have kids or pets. Every part of them contains highly poisonous compounds like digitalis glycoside. If your child or pet eats even a small portion of them, they could wind up in a medical emergency. The most common symptoms include dizziness, a drop in blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. 

Instead of planting these flowers, try growing visually striking snapdragons instead. These plants are nontoxic and produce tons of colorful blooms on their upright stalks. They’re also very easy to grow, even for novice gardeners. 

Princess Tree

	botanical name Paulownia tomentosa
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30-50’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Princess trees grow fast and produce tons of gorgeous flowers. Also known as empress trees, they’re native to China and produce tons of white to pink flower clusters in the spring. 

Although they’re attractive, they’re highly invasive. If you’re creating a landscape garden, it’s best to avoid them. They’ll overwhelm native perennials, trees, and smaller ornamentals. Before long, they’ll out-grow and outperform most plants. 

Instead of growing these trees, try planting other flowering tree species. Many species of dogwoods grow in similar climates and will not invade sensitive ecosystems. They produce tons of colorful flowers and attract beneficial pollinators and birds. 

Angel’s Trumpet

	botanical name Brugmansia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 35’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Angel’s trumpets look stunning in a subtropical landscape garden, with their yellow or red horn-shaped flowers and attractive foliage. As stunning and easy to grow as they are, they’re incredibly toxic. If ingested, their poisonous compounds can cause dangerous hallucinations, paralysis, and death. 

If you choose to grow these plants, always wear gloves and wash your hands repeatedly after touching them. Only grow them if you’re child or pet-free. Even still, you’ll have to be careful when handling them. 

Instead of growing these perennial shrubs, try growing other flowering trees, such as hibiscus. These plants are stunning and mostly non-toxic. They’re just as easy to maintain and produce plenty of flowers throughout the growing season. 

Kudzu

	botanical name Pueraria montana var. lobata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 30-100’
	hardiness zones 5-11

Similar to English ivy, kudzu is a fast-growing vine that produces thick leaves and fast-growing ground cover. As tempting as it is to grow it for its foliage, it’s best to avoid it. 

In much of the American South, it’s taken over native landscapes. You’ll see it climbing abandoned buildings and covering home gardens with uncontrolled growth. If you don’t work hard to maintain it, you can have a serious task removing it. 

Instead of kudzu, try growing native grapes and other native vines. They’ll work with other native species in your garden without competing for space and resources. They’re also great for attracting beneficial wildlife to your landscape. 

Hyacinth

	botanical name Hyacinthus orientalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Hyacinths are gorgeous bulbs that produce tons of upright flowers. They come in all sorts of colors and smell magical. When they bloom, it’s hard not to love their tubular petals dancing in the breeze. 

Although they’re magical, they’re some of the most toxic plants you can grow in your garden. If your pets ingest any part of the plant, they could wind up in the vet for severe stomach problems and tremors. 

If you have pets or kids, try growing non-toxic flowers like freesias instead. These flowers look incredible, like hyacinths, but are without risks. 

Wisteria

	botanical name Wisteria sinensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 40’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Wisterias are beautiful climbers that produce tons of bright purple, pink, white, or blue flowers. They smell amazing and make exciting decorations for trellises and walkways. They’re also great for attracting pollinators like birds and bees. 

Although they sound like the perfect fit for your landscape, they’re notoriously hard to maintain. These plants are native to Asia and have caused a lot of issues since being introduced to the US. In many parts of the East Coast, the climate is similar to their native habitat. Because of this, they’ve become invasive. 

Try growing the native American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), or flowering vines such as trumpet honeysuckles. Native insects and pollinators love these flowering vines. They’ll still provide plenty of colorful and easy-to-maintain flowers and foliage. 

Reed Canary Grass

	botanical name Phalaris arundinacea
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Reed canary grasses grow thick stems full of seed pods that look amazing as hedges or backdrops. Besides their ornamental value, they’re used for papermaking and biomass products. 

Although stunning and versatile, they’re highly invasive. If you plant them, their tiny seeds will spread in the wind and germinate in gardens and natural habitats far away. Once they establish themselves, they’ll out-compete native plants and become hard to eradicate. 

Instead of growing these invasive grasses, try growing native grasses. They’ll adapt to your environment better without competing with other plants. 

Mexican Feather Grass

	botanical name Nassella tenuissima
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 2’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Mexican feather grass is a beautiful and wispy species of grass native to the dry prairies of Mexico and parts of the US. Its feathery seed heads look stunning, but they’re hard to admire once they produce seeds. As the foliage dances in the wind, the seeds scatter far and wide. 

Once the plants take hold in the soil, they’re tough to control. In one season, you may find yourself with an overwhelming garden problem. 

Instead of growing this vigorous grass, try growing less invasive native species instead. Plants like big bluestems and blue grama are great alternatives that won’t take over your garden. 

Monkshood

	botanical name Aconitum napellus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Monkshood is a gorgeous flowering herbaceous perennial that’s easy to grow and propagate. It puts on a show of purple blooms that grow upright on long stems that can reach up to 4 feet tall.

As attractive as it is, it’s quite poisonous. Every part of the plant contains dangerous compounds that can cause irregular heartbeat and breathing issues. If you choose to plant monkshood, always wear gloves and avoid touching its sap. If you have pets or children, avoid planting it.