Some popular, even beloved, plants in our gardens are not as benign as they may appear. Because of their rampant growth habits, plants such as honeysuckle, butterfly bush, periwinkle, and rose of Sharon have become invasive, spreading beyond backyard plantings to roadsides, streams, fields, and forests where they displace native species, alter natural plant communities, and degrade the environment.
- Plants designated as “invasive” are distinct from weeds or other plant species that simply spread aggressively in our own gardens. In the United States, invasiveness was formally defined in Executive Order 13112 (1999), which was amended by Executive Order 13751 (2016).
- Together, those directives state that an invasive plant:
- Is not native to the ecosystem in which it occurs.
- It can spread by seeds, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species beyond cultivation.
- Its introduction into natural areas causes economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal, or plant health
According to the Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool (MAIT), more than 600 non-native invasive species have been documented within the Mid-Atlantic region.
- To learn about which species have been identified in Virginia at the state and local level, see Invasive Plants in Virginia.
Homeowners can play a role in reducing the spread of these invasive plants by removing them from their properties and avoiding the purchase of such plants that are still sold by nurseries for landscape purposes.
- For guidance in removing these plants, see Controlling Invasive Plants.
- For detailed information on selected invasive species and recommendations on replacing them with appropriate native alternatives, see Invasive Plant Fact Sheets.
- There are also informational videos for a number of invasive plants on the Glencarlyn Invasive Plant Videos page.
See also three recorded presentations in our Master Gardener Virtual Classroom which give a good overview of the issues with invasive plants and recommendations of alternative native species. These have accompanying handouts.