Some plants, despite their attractive qualities, do more harm than good. Landscape plants to avoid growing include harmful invasive species and poisonous plants that can cause significant bodily harm.
Below, we’re naming and shaming 12 plants that all North American gardeners should avoid.
Note that not all non-native plants are invasive. Invasive species (the ones you should never grow) are those that spread, outcompete local plants, and have a negative effect on the local environment.
Likewise, it’s not necessary to avoid all plants that are considered “toxic.” Many common plants are toxic if ingested. Toxicity becomes a concern if the health risk is extreme, such as with plants that are potentially fatal to ingest. Or, toxicity is a problem if merely touching a plant causes an allergic reaction, such as with poison ivy.
The plants listed below aren’t just non-native or toxic. They’re invasive or extremely poisonous, or both.
Common Landscape Plants to Avoid Growing
Here are 12 landscape plants to avoid growing, along with suggestions on safer alternatives to grow instead.
1. Belladonna (Atropa belladonna)
Belladonna is one of the world’s most poisonous, dangerous plants. Merely touching the plant can make you sick, while ingesting it is potentially fatal. Worse, belladonna offers up attractive berries that can turn curious kids or animals into victims. There’s no reason to put such a hazardous plant in a home landscape.
Instead of belladonna, grow: bugbane or black huckleberry.
2. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
As an evergreen groundcover, English ivy is attractive and low-maintenance. Unfortunately, it’s a terribly aggressive spreader. English ivy grows up trees and along the ground, sprawling across a landscape and invading native habitats. Massive amounts of time and money are devoted every year to removing this plant from public lands.
Instead of English ivy, grow: wild strawberry or creeping phlox.
3. Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Bradford pear is a widely-grown cultivar of the Callery pear tree. Bradford pears are popular for their fast growth and beautiful blooms. However, there are three good reasons not to plant these trees: they’re invasive, they’re notorious for splitting apart during storms, and they have a foul odor. There are many better small tree options since Bradford pear trees are definitely plants to avoid growing.
Instead of Bradford pear, grow: Eastern redbud or American plum.
4. Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Japanese barberry is an attractive landscaping shrub, thanks to its dense growth and colorful foliage that offers year-round appeal. Unfortunately, this non-native species is very hardy and shade tolerant, enabling it to aggressively invade woodland habitats. Via seed dispersion by birds, the plant easily escapes home landscapes to become problematic elsewhere.
Instead of Japanese barberry, grow: dwarf bottlebrush or common ninebark.
5. Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Scotch broom has lovely yellow flowers, but it’s a notorious invasive species. The sale of this plant is limited in many areas, but it’s still sold in some nurseries despite Scotch broom being on many lists of plants to avoid growing. Insects and other animals carry Scotch broom seeds into natural areas, where it quickly spreads and outcompetes native species.
Instead of Scotch broom, grow: goldenrod or Oregon grape holly.
6. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Lily of the Valley is a gorgeous groundcover with shapely green foliage and white bell-shaped flowers. Unfortunately, this species is considered invasive in many US regions. It spreads horizontally under the soil surface and aggressively chokes out other plants. Lily of the Valley is also extremely toxic, causing severe illness or death when ingested.
Instead of lily of the valley, grow: bunchberry dogwood or wild ginger.
7. Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
There are many species of bamboo, including some native to the American Southeast. However, nonnative bamboos from Asia should be strictly avoided in American landscapes. “Running” varieties, such as golden bamboo, are those that spread horizontally through aggressive root systems. Running bamboo can be extremely invasive and is one of the most difficult plant infestations to control.
Instead of golden bamboo, grow: big blue stem or northern sea oats.
8. Oleander (Nerium oleander).
Oleander is a fast-growing, heat-tolerant shrub with lovely pink or purple blooms. Oleander is problematic for several reasons. It’s invasive in some areas, having escaped cultivation and spread into natural habitats. Oleander roots spread horizontally, frequently causing damage to building foundations and infrastructure. Most notably, oleander is intensely toxic. Ingesting the plant can be deadly, while merely touching it can cause skin problems.
Instead of oleander, grow: Texas mountain laurel or Mexican orange blossom.
9. Ice Plant (Carpobrotus edulis)
A number of different plants are commonly known as “ice plants,” and not all are invasive in the US. However, Carpobrotus edulis is one that should be strictly avoided, particularly in California. This species is native to South Africa. It was planted in California in the early 1900s to stabilize the soil near railroad tracks. Sadly, ice plants have a shocking ability to spread. They form enormous mats that can coat entire dunes, eliminating all native plant life along the way.
Instead of ice plant, grow: Southwestern mock vervain or yarrow.
10. Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)
Pampas Grass is native to South America and invasive in many US states. The plant produces tall, feathery plumes with many thousands of tiny seeds. The wind-blown seeds can travel for miles, drifting into sensitive habitats. Pampas grass is still widely sold as an ornamental plant, but should be avoided in most regions and considered among the list of plants to avoid growing.
Instead of pampas grass, grow: feather reed grass or prairie dropseed.
11. Red Sesbania (Sesbania punicea)
Native to South America, red sesbania is a deciduous shrub with attractive scarlet-colored flowers. This species is considered invasive in many areas, including California and parts of the Southeast. It thrives in moist soils, such as swamps and wetlands, where it forms dense stands and outcompetes native plants. Unfortunately, red sesbania is still sometimes sold as an ornamental landscaping plant.
Instead, grow: summersweet or star magnolia.
12. Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Common buckthorn is native to Eurasia but was brought to North America for use as a landscaping plant. It’s an invasive species in many central and northern states. It’s an extremely hardy shrub, popular for hedges. Common buckthorn seeds are carried by birds, and the plant easily spreads in native habitats, such as prairies. Worse, this species is a host plant for soybean aphids, which makes it especially problematic near farmland. Note that a separate buckthorn species, alderleaf buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia), is native to North America.
Instead, grow: American elderberry or black chokeberry.
Choosing Native Plants for Your Home Landscape
Not every non-native plant causes problems, but most problematic plants are non-native. Meanwhile, every region has its own wonderful variety of native plants to choose from. Native plants are adapted to their local climate and they provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
New to native plant gardening? Get started here: Gardening with Native Plants.
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