Wisteria is a gorgeous woody vine that blooms with drooping clusters of bluish purple flowers in spring. Buttonbush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis).Grow this instead: Butterfly weed is a great alternative to the invasive butterfly bush. Because butterfly bush doesn’t support the entire lifecycle of butterflies, it is quite harmful when it displaces native plants in forests and meadows that caterpillars need to survive. And while it’s true that this shrub provides a source of nectar for pollinators, it is actually detrimental to butterflies.Īlthough adult butterflies will feed on its nectar, butterfly larvae (caterpillars) cannot use the leaves of the butterfly bush as a food source. It is classified as a noxious weed in Oregon and Washington.īutterfly bush produces fragrant and showy arching panicles with densely clustered tiny flowers. It has since escaped cultivation through copious self-seeding dispersed by wind, spreading aggressively in eastern and western states. Butterfly Bush ( Buddleja davidii)īutterfly bush was introduced to North America around 1900, originally hailing from Japan and China. These cultivars are still widely sold throughout the United States today.Ĭhoose to grow native plants instead – not only are they beautiful and low maintenance, they help support the food web while preserving plant diversity. Sadly, plenty of plant nurseries and online shops will eagerly sell you the seeds and starts of invasive plants regardless of their ecological impact. 12 Invasive Plants (& Native Plants to Grow Instead) This is why it is so important to research the plants you wish to grow to make sure they are a part of your local biome. Not all plants that come from a different continent are invasive, and even some plants that are native to North America can be classed as noxious or aggressive when they land in a state they are not indigenous to. These produce allergens, or are toxic by contact or ingestion. Some invasive plants are classified as noxious weeds that are “injurious” to humans and wildlife. Invasive species are among the main drivers of the loss of biodiversity globally, creating monocultures that cause native plants to go extinct, or to become hybridized through cross pollination between related native plants. Invasive plants are able to spread so successfully through a number of traits: they grow fast, reproduce quickly, adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions, and can even alter their growth habits to better suit the new location.Īdditionally, invasives may thrive in their new home due to an absence of insects or diseases that would normally keep their numbers in check in their natural habitat. ![]() ![]() Once established in a new location, invasive species cause harm to the environment and local ecosystems by outcompeting native plants and decreasing overall biodiversity. Many of the invasive transplants found in the wilderness of North America originally hailed from Europe and Asia, brought over by settlers who desired some familiar ornamentals in their new home. How Invasive Plants Threaten Native Ecosystems The addition of foreign cultivars to the natural landscape has had a real and lasting impact on the flora and fauna that rely on native species to survive. Broadly defined, invasive plants are non-native species introduced to a particular region where they are able to spread far and wide.Įxotic plants from faraway lands may be beautiful but there is no way to stop them from escaping the confines of your garden through the dispersion of seeds or by creeping underground rhizomes.
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