So, if you are a regular reader of this blog you probably know our disdain and hatred of invasive plants. One of the primary vectors of invasive (if not THE primary vector) is the nursery/landscaping industry. They sell invasive species to unsuspecting homeowners how decorate their yards with them, and unwittingly (most of the time) cause new species to take over land. This happens for a number or reasons, which I will detail in a later post.
But one of the best ways to combat or reduce the invaders is if we can recommend or encourage people to plant natives instead. So I took the time to document some of the most common invasive plants that are sold or planted as ornamentals in people’s yards, and gave some suggestions for native equivalents.
If someone you know is completely hung up on having one of these invasive plants for purely aesthetics, then the best we can do is try to recommend a native alternative that looks similar. So, please use this reference list below to find possible native alternatives (on the right) to replace the invasive species on the left.
If you locate some you are interested in, then you can try to find it stocked in a native plant nursery. We have a North American directory for native plant nurseries that would be helpful, as they specialize in selling natives only. There is also the online mail-order site Izel.
But if you notice anything missing, or have any suggestions, feel free to email us and let us know so we can keep it all up-to-date.
| Exotic | Native |
| Andromeda (Pieris japonica) | Swamp Doghobble (Eubotrys racemosa) |
| Asian Bittersweet | American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) |
| Autumn Olive | Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), Broadleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea latifolia), Maple-leaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), Strawberry bush (Euonymus americanus), Wax-myrtle (Myrica cerifera) |
| Barberry | Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), Deerberry, (Vaccinium stamineum), Maple-leaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), Strawberry bush, (Euonymus americanus), Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) |
| Boxwood (Buxus) | Inkberry (Ilex glabra) |
| Bradford Pear | Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Serviceberry,(Amelanchier) |
| Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) | Arrow-wood (Virburnum dentatum), Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus) Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), Oak-leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) Southern arrowwood(Viburnum dentatum), Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus), Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), Witch-alder, (Fothergilla gardenii, F. major), Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) |
| Bush Honeysuckle | Arrow-wood (Virburnum dentatum), Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) |
| Daylily | Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata or G. grandiflora), Coreopsis Grandiflora, Coreopsis lanceolata, Philadelphia lily (Lilium philadelphicum), Scaly blazingstar (Liatris squarrosa) |
| English Ivy | Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), Alumroot (Heuchera), Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), Solomon’s Seal, (Polygonatum sp) False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosa) |
| Evergreen azaleas | Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum, R. periclymenoides, R. canadense) |
| Exotic Roses | Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina), Virginia Wild Rose (R. virginiana), Swamp Rose (R. palustris) |
| Exotic Spirea | Meadowsweet (Spirea alba var latifolia), Steeplebush (Spirea tomentosa), Sweet Pepperbush, (Clethra alnifolia) |
| Heavenly Bamboo (Nandia domestica) | Purple Chokeberry (Aronia prunifolia) |
| Hosta | False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosum), Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense), Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
| Italian Arum | Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) |
| Japanese Honeysuckle | Vasevine (Clematis Vioma), Carolina Jamine, (Gelsemium sepmpervirens), Trumpet Honeysuckle(Lonicera sempervirens), Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), Purple Passionflower, (Passiflora incarnata) |
| Japanese Stiltgrass | Bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix), River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) |
| Japanese Wisteria | American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), Coast azalea (Rhododendron atlanticum), Sweet Azalea (Rhododendron arboescens), Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata) |
| Leatherleaf Machonia (Berberis bealei) | Shrubby St John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) |
| Lesser Celandine | Golden Ragwort, (Packera aurea), Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginiana) |
| Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) | Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra) |
| Miscanthus grass (Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sp.) | Eastern Needle Grass (Piptochaetium avenaceum), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Big Bluestem (Andropogon geradii), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) |
| Orange Daylily | Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Philidelphia lily (Lilium philadelphicum), Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense) |
| Porcelainberry | Gray dogwood (Cornus foemina subsp racemosa,Cornus paniculata), Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium), Blue Haw / Swamp haw viburnum (Viburnum cassinoides) |
| Purple Loosestrife | Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Blazing Star (Liatris spicata), Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), Ironweed (Vernonia sp.) |
| Spanish Bluebell | Bottle Gentain (Gentiana andrewsii) |
| Wisteria | American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) |
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