Invasive Ground Covers: 15 To Avoid And Safe Alternatives
Choosing the right plants can protect biodiversity and keep your outdoor spaces thriving.
15 Invasive Ground Covers to Never Plant in Your Garden
If you are seeking ornamental ground covers to beautify your landscape, it is crucial to steer clear of certain fast-growing, aggressive species. Many popular ground covers have become invasive in various regions, posing significant threats to native ecosystems, biodiversity, and even your home gardenâs health. This article outlines the 15 most problematic invasive ground covers, explains their ecological impact, and offers guidance on choosing safer alternatives for a thriving, sustainable landscape.
Why Are Some Ground Covers Invasive?
Contrary to their attractive appearance, several ground covers introduced as ornamentals have turned into serious invaders. Ground covers become invasive when they:
- Grow rapidly and form dense mats, outcompeting other vegetation.
- Spread aggressively via stems, runners, or prolific seeding, moving far beyond their intended planting area.
- Smother native species, including wildflowers and established trees, by blocking sunlight and monopolizing soil nutrients.
- Are difficult to eradicate once established, due to persistent roots or extensive seed banks.
The problem is compounded by the fact that many of these plants remain available at garden centers, despite their negative ecological effects.
How Invasive Ground Covers Hurt Gardens and Ecosystems
Rapid-spreading ground covers can do serious damage at both local and ecological scales:
- Displacement of native flora: These species outcompete and often completely displace native plants crucial for ecosystem health.
- Loss of biodiversity: With native plants choked out, insects, birds, and other wildlife lose essential food and habitat sources.
- Soil and tree health impacts: Dense mats alter soil chemistry and moisture, sometimes damaging even mature trees.
- Spread beyond the garden: Seeds, runners, or fragments are easily distributed by birds, water, or garden debris, leading to invasion of wild areas.
- Eradication struggles: Removing these plants once established is costly, labor-intensive, and sometimes nearly impossible.
Donât Plant These 15 Invasive Ground Covers
These 15 ground covers are notorious for their invasiveness. If you spot them for sale or consider planting them, think againâor be prepared for a long battle to remove them!
1. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English Ivy is a classic favorite for covering walls and shady ground. However, its vigorous growth allows it to:
- Suppress native plants with dense shade.
- Climb trees, leading to branch breakage, disease vulnerability, and sometimes death.
- Root from every node, making eradication extremely challenging.
2. Periwinkle / Vinca (Vinca major, Vinca minor)
Popular for glossy foliage and blue or purple flowers, both Vinca species:
- Form thick mats that exclude everything underneath.
- Readily escape into nearby woodlands and parks.
3. Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
Favored for deep shade tolerance, Japanese pachysandra:
- Spreads and dominates woodland understories.
- Is extremely hard to control once established.
4. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
This fast-growing vine climbs walls and sprawls across ground, easily smothering native vegetation and infiltrating wild spaces. It spreads by both runners and seeds.
5. Bugleweed / Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
While attractive in lawns with its purple-blue flower spikes, Bugleweed:
- Displaces native wildflowers.
- Roots at each stem node, making it difficult to fully remove.
6. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Often used in hanging baskets for its golden foliage, Creeping Jenny:
What others are reading
- Can carpet large areas rapidly.
- Escapes cultivation and invades wetlands.
7. Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)
This ground cover displays attractive variegated leaves and yellow flowers. However, it:
- Spreads vigorously by stems and seeds.
- Is listed as an invasive species in multiple regions.
8. Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria) aka Goutweed
Renowned for its ability to thrive in shade, Bishopâs Weed:
- Forms impenetrable colonies through underground rhizomes.
- Is extraordinarily difficult to eradicateâeven small root fragments will resprout.
9. Ground Morning Glory (Convolvulus sabatius)
Bearing large, showy flowers, ground morning glory can:
- Spread swiftly along garden edges and fences.
- Compete heavily with garden and native plants.
10. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)
Also known as ground ivy, this member of the mint family:
- Is exceptionally tenacious, rooting at every leaf node.
- Quickly overruns lawns, flower beds, and wild areas.
11. Houttuynia (Houttuynia cordata)
Despite its unique heart-shaped leaves, Houttuynia:
- Forms dense mats over wet soils and pond edges.
- Is almost impossible to eradicate once established, regenerating from even tiny root pieces.
12. Liriope (Liriope spicata)
Often sold as a low-maintenance border, Liriope:
- Rapidly spreads through rhizomes, escaping flower beds to invade lawns and natural areas.
- Can form large monocultures, pushing out native grasses and ground covers.
13. Princess Vine (Cissus trifoliata)
This vigorous climber is capable of:
- Covering fences and ground alike with speed.
- Outcompeting less aggressive native vines and ground covers.
14. Chameleon Plant (Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’ and related)
Renowned for its bright foliage, chameleon plant:
- Can quickly overwhelm other low-growing plants.
- Spreads relentlessly in moist soils, both by root and seed.
15. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Beloved for its fragrance, Japanese honeysuckle:
- Outpaces and overgrows native shrubs, wildflowers, or trees.
- Is nearly unstoppable once it escapes cultivation.
What Makes a Ground Cover “Invasive”?
Ground covers achieve “invasive” status when they combine the following traits:
- Extremely rapid reproduction via seeds, rhizomes, or runners.
- Ability to thrive in a wide range of conditions, making them adaptable and resilient.
- Lack of natural predators or diseases in their introduced range.
- Capacity to smother or replace existing vegetation, often altering soil chemistry or forest structure as they do so.
Risks of Planting Invasive Ground Covers
Common dangers include:
- Long-term loss of garden biodiversity and aesthetics.
- Potential legal consequences if a plant is banned or regulated in your state.
- Negative impact on local wildlife and water systems, especially from species that escape into natural habitats.
- Significant financial and labor burden for removal and control.
Can I Grow Invasive Plants in Containers Safely?
Some gardeners consider containing invasive species in pots or raised beds to curb their spread. While this may work for some plants, important cautions include:
- Roots and stems may still escape through drainage holes or over edges.
- Many invasives breed prolifically by seed, which can be dispersed by wind, water, or wildlifeâeven from potted specimens.
- Prevent accidental spread by deadheading flowers before seed set and always disposing of pruned material safely.
Best practice: Choose non-invasive alternatives whenever possible.
What to Plant Instead: Attractive, Non-Invasive Alternatives
Fortunately, gardeners have an array of stunning ground cover options that pose no risk to the environment. Consider the following native or well-behaved species:
- Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): A shade-loving North American native that slowly spreads, offering attractive heart-shaped leaves and supporting native insects.
- Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia): Features frothy spring flowers; ideal for woodland gardens.
- Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.): Low, silvery foliage and charming blossoms attract pollinators.
- Sedges (Carex species): Many sedges make durable, attractive ground covers with restrained spreading habits.
- Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides): Gold-flowering, shade-tolerant, and non-invasive alternative to creeping ground covers.
- Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata): Bright spring blooms in sun-loving, low mats.
Always research your regionâs native plants, which will usually provide the most benefits for your specific climate and wildlife.
Tips for Managing Existing Invasive Ground Covers
- Manual removal: Regularly hand-pull or dig out patches, ensuring all root fragments are removed. Persistence is key.
- Smothering: Cover patches with cardboard or several layers of newspaper topped by mulch for a full season. This starves roots of light.
- Herbicides: As a last resort, use targeted herbicide applications, following all label directions to minimize environmental harm.
- Dispose of carefully: Never compost invasive cuttings or roots. Bag and dispose via municipal waste.
Table: Invasive Ground Covers and Safe Alternatives
| Invasive Ground Cover | Safe Alternative |
|---|---|
| English Ivy | Wild Ginger, Foamflower |
| Vinca | Moss Phlox |
| Pachysandra | Barren Strawberry |
| Wintercreeper | Native Sedges |
| Ajuga | Pussytoes |
| Creeping Jenny | Golden Groundsel (Packera aurea) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why are some invasive ground covers still sold at nurseries?
Many invasive species gained popularity due to their beauty and easy growth, and they were introduced before their damaging habits became clear. While some states ban them, others permit their sale. Always check local laws before purchasing unfamiliar plants.
Q: Can an invasive ground cover be controlled if planted in the right place?
Even carefully confined plantings often lead to eventual spread due to plant fragments or seeds escaping. Prevention is the best policy.
Q: How do I know if a plant is invasive in my region?
Consult local native plant societies, county extension offices, or your stateâs invasive species list. A safe approach is to favor native ground covers and avoid any plant listed as invasive, even if not banned locally.
Q: Are non-native ground covers always invasive?
Noâsome non-native species do not show aggressive behavior and can be safely grown, especially when research proves they donât naturalize widely. Always do your homework and choose responsibly.
Q: What should I do if invasive ground covers have already spread on my property?
Start management as soon as possible using a combination of hand-pulling, mulching, root removal, and cautious herbicide use if needed. Persistence is essential, and replacing removed invasives with robust native plants can help prevent their return.
Conclusion: Choose Wisely for Your Garden and the Environment
While many invasive ground covers are visually appealing and commonly available, planting them can cause lasting harm to your garden and surrounding ecosystems. By avoiding these 15 problematic species and selecting non-invasive or native ground covers, you protect biodiversity, reduce maintenance struggles, and contribute positively to your local environment.
References
Similar Articles
Read full bio of medha deb
