7 Invasive Plants: Why They’re Harmful and How to Remove Them

Over the years, the United States has ended up with many invasive species of plants, whether by accident or purposefully. Many invasive plants have been brought over as decoration, the people doing so not knowing they would spread and grow out of control, while others were brought over by complete accident through shipping and other means.

So, why is this bad? Well, there are many detrimental effects caused by invasive species. Because of how quickly many grow, they take up critical space needed by native species, causing them to die out. They can also spread diseases, block sunlight, and even change the pH of soil, making it too acidic or basic for the native plants to grow.

This is a list I’ve compiled of invasive plants I see regularly as someone who lives in the south eastern United States. It’s important to be able to spot these plants and get rid of them. Not only do they harm plants, they harm local wildlife as well.

Chinese Wisteria

Chinese wisteria is beautiful, both in appearance and scent, which is why they are sought after by many gardeners. The problem is, they are fast growers and climbers and can grow out of control fast. Any trees nearby will quickly be covered, which can lead to suffocation and ultimately death. Not only that, but they also spread over the ground as well, making it hard for native plants to grow without being overtaken.

If Chinese wisteria pops up in your yard, remove it fast! I have currently been battling with a massive root system of it at my home I recently moved into. There are main, thick vines that grow beneath the dirt undetected, allowing it to sprout new shoots yards and yards away from the main plant. It’s important to find these underground vines and nip them at the source. Dig them up and burn them to keep them from returning.

​Issues​: Kill trees, remove ground cover, lower biodiversity
​Plant Instead​: American wisteria

Mimosa

Mimosas are a common tree found along roadsides, fields, and along riverbanks. Initially being brought over from Asia, they have gone to take over large parts of the southeastern United States and can be found in over 1,200 counties.

Their bright pink, puffy seeds spread quickly, producing the fast-growing trees who go on to continue the cycle. These trees take up vital space that could be used by native trees, lowering biodiversity.

I grew up loving these trees, as they filled our horse pastures and looked like giant clouds of cotton candy during their flowering season. As pretty as they are, they should be cut down to avoid spreading. There are many flowering trees native to the southeastern part of the US, such as dogwood, that make an excellent alternative.

​Issues​: Remove vital space for native trees, lower biodiversity
​Plant Instead​: Dogwoods, redbuds, crabapples

English Ivy

English Ivy, once used as a decorative house plant, made its way outside into gardens and spread rapidly. It is fast growing and incredibly difficult to get rid of once it begins to spread. It can be found all along the western and eastern coasts of the United States, covering yards and forests in a blanket of vines.

This ivy climbs trees, sapping nutrients from them, blocking sunlight, weighing down their branches, and ultimately killing them through suffocation.

This is another plant I’ve been battling in my own yard, and it can be frustrating to deal with.

Once established, they can be difficult to kill, but it’s possible. As long as they aren’t covering any plants you want to preserve, spraying a mixture of vinegar, dish soap, and salt on the leaves will wither them and sap the water from inside. Mow over large patches, and chainsaws can be used on thicker vines covering trees and buildings, but they will continue to grow back if this is not maintained. The vines need to be ripped from the ground and burned if at all possible, and root balls need to be dug up.

Note: make sure not to rip pieces off of trees after cutting them. Let them die naturally after being cut at the bases and they will wither away. Ripping them from the trees will damage the bark and harm the trees.

​Issues​: Take up vital ground cover for native plants, suffocate trees, block sunlight
​Plant instead​: Cross vine, Carolina jasmine, muscadines

Kudzu

Kudzu works very similarly to English ivy. If you have ever been to the southern states of the US, you have no doubt seen seas of green vines covering vast swaths of dead trees. Kudzu can grow up to a foot a day, making its spread quick and deadly to any trees and plants it comes across.

It’s possible to kill Kudzu similarly to English ivy. There are also companies that release goats into overgrown areas to eat away at the ground cover. They are also entirely edible to humans, with many recipes shared throughout the southeastern United States, substituting it for spinach. If you have a pesky patch of kudzu you need to get rid of, try a few recipes first!

​Issues​: Take up vital ground cover for native plants, suffocate trees, block sunlight
​Plant Instead​: Passion flower, trumpet creepers, Virginia creeper

Bamboo

Bamboo is a prolific grower, with some species able to grow up to three feet a day. It spreads fast, creating ‘bamboo forests’ which overtake vital space for native trees and plants.

Bamboo should be handled quickly before it can have the chance to spread, because it gets out of hand fast. Once cut down, it can be dried and used for construction, as well as support poles for garden plants.

​Issues​: Removes vital space for native plants, lowers biodiversity
​Plant Instead​: Sunflowers

Bradford Pears

If you live in the southern United States, you know the strong, fishy smell of Bradford pears in early spring. While pretty, this plant has spread aggressively and beat out native trees for space for decades.

Bradford pears can even prove to be dangerous. Their branches are brittle and can break during even the smallest gusts of wind. This can cause property and bodily harm. Not to mention the long, sharp thorns that cover the branches.

If you have any of these trees on your property, consider cutting them down and replacing them with native fruit trees. That way, not only do you end up with sturdier trees, they also provide food for you and local wildlife.

​Issues​: Break easily, take up vital space for native trees, lower biodiversity
​Plant Instead​: Native fruit trees (black cherries, pawpaws, service berries)

Japanese Honeysuckle

The honeysuckle we normally associate with the sweet smell and edible trumpet shaped flowers is actually a highly invasive plant. Like many of the other plants in this article, honeysuckle chokes out native plants and trees, as well as blocks sunlight.

The United States has its own native honeysuckle species, which can substitute for the Japanese variant. These native species support pollinators and feed hummingbirds without competing with other plants for space.

​Issues​: Blocks sunlight, suffocates trees, removes ground space for native plants
​Plant Instead​: Coral honeysuckle, cross vine, trumpet creeper

Plant Natives, Not Invasives

This is by no means the only invasive plant species that have made their way into the United States. There are hundreds of invasive plants that have ended up here that not only remove the natural biodiversity of the areas, but also destroy the environment by killing the native plants and removing food from wild animals.

When removing and replacing invasive plants, it’s important to do research and know what you are planting and whether or not they are native to your area. By planting native species, you not only plant things that naturally thrive in your area, but you also protect your natural ecosystem. Native species provide beneficial pollen to pollinators, as well as shelter and food for animals like birds, squirrels, and deer.