Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants in the Southeast

Save yourself the pain of managing an aggressive takeover, and plant one of these instead

Say the Word of God “ invasive plant ” and you ’ll get a wide-cut range of reactions , from horror to defensiveness to irritation to mix-up . But rarely will you get no response at all . That ’s because , as with any widespread issue that receive pressing , the rigour and complexness of the job brace emotion . As cultivator of plants , we find ourselves involved in the practical side of this planetary issue , but with local concerns . Everyone has seen the kudzu colossus , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - of - heaven corridors , or usual reed coastal takeovers , but you ’d be very intemperately - push to find any of these plants for cut-rate sale to the world . Yet equally invasive plants such as Chinese privet ( Ligustrum sinense ) , porcelain berry vine ( Ampelopsis brevipedunculata ) , or Callery pear ( Pyrus calleryana ) are still found in the aisles of big box stores and nurseries . And this is where gardening comes face - to - face with the yield .

A plant is in general considered invasive if it is not native to the local ecosystem and if its introduction and subsequent spreading causes environmental and/or economical harm . The way I put it to my immature son is that these are “ bully plants”—they take over , suck up up resources , and do n’t allow other industrial plant , and the insects and other creatures that count on those plants , to spring up there .

I could expend many words on the skill of invading metal money , but I want to guide straight to the practical side of what it intend for us gardener . When it comes to purchase and implant known invasive species , my personal bottom line is “ Just do n’t do it . ” What you win ( or trust you are reach ) is just not worth it — not only for your own garden and succeeding sustentation , but for the unmanaged surrounding landscapes that do n’t have a loving nurseryman to keep things in check . We are all connected in our local ecosystems , and our health and longevity depend on seeing the big picture .

Below I ’ve included a chart of invasive species and native southeasterly alternatives . In this chart I ’m covering the intact southeastward from pot to sea , which encompasses a plenty of diverse ecosystems ! What is invasive in one arena may not be so in another . However , with climate changes , those traditional bound are changing . So take my list as a jumping - off dot . If you see something you realise , dig a niggling deep to learn of the particulars of that plant in your corner of the Southeast . There are many more aboriginal choice than the ones I ’ve listed , as well asnonnative options . Realize that mess of foreign-born plants show no propensity to be invasive and are o.k. garden plant life . So if you ’ve got a novel works in intellect , just do a nimble Google search to verify how it ’s been behaving in your bionomic region , or check ithere .

Invasive woody species for sale

Native alternatives

briery olive . pic : Paula Gross

‘ Nana ’ yaupon holly . Photo : Steve Aitken

Chinese privet . Photo : Paula Gross

Inkberry . photograph : Michelle Gervais

Nandina cv . Photo : Mary Morgan

‘ Winter Red ’ winterberry . Photo : Jennifer Benner

Callery pear . Photo : Paula Gross

easterly Cercis canadensis . exposure : Paula Gross

‘ Goldflame ’ Nipponese spiraea . pic : Michelle Gervais

‘ Sixteen Candles ’ summersweet . Photo : Nancy J. Ondra

Invasive vines for sale

Nipponese honeysuckle . Photo : Paula Gross

Coral honeysuckle . pic : Paula Gross

Invasive ground covers for sale

English ivy . picture : Michelle Gervais

Alleghany spurge . Photo : Paula Gross

Invasive herbaceous species for sale

‘ Dixie ’ miscanthus . Photo : Michelle Gervais

Pink muhly grass . Photo : Paula Gross

‘ Rubra ’ Japanese descent grass . Photo : Michelle Gervais

‘ Cheyenne Sky ’ switchgrass . Photo : Michelle Gervais

Periwinkle . Photo : Paula Gross

pussyfoot phlox ( Phlox stolonifera).Photo : Paula Gross

Paula Gross is the former adjunct managing director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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Thorny olive.Photo: Paula Gross

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