Native Substitutes for Invasive Garden Plants

~Click~ on the horticultural invasive below for suggested native substitutes.

•For information on how to rid the landscape of these nuisance species, see Weeds Gone Wild, IPANE, & TNC Weeds.
•For information on purchasing native plants, see Drosera's Resources page).


Norway maple, sycamore maple (Acer platanoides, A. pseudoplatanus)
Porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
Bamboo (Bambusa, Phyllostachys, Pseudosasa species)
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Autumn olive, Russian olive (Elaeagnus umbellata, E. angustifolia)
Winged burning bush (Euonymus alata)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Privet (Ligustrum vulgare, L. obtusifolium, L. sinense, L. japonicum)
Amur, Morrow's, Bell 's, Tatarian, and other shrub honeysuckles (Lonicera maackii, L. morrowii, L. tatarica, L. x bella)
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Exotic wisterias (Wisteria sinensis, W. floribunda)

 

Norway maple, sycamore maple (Acer platanoides, A. pseudoplatanus)

There are a number of native trees that grow in dry soils in full sun to part shade, and cast deep shade with attractive foliage:

• Red maple, Sugar maple (Acer rubrum, A. saccharum)
• Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
• Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
• American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
• Northern red oak (Quercus rubra)
• American linden (Tilia americana)

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Porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)

There are a number of native woody vines with attractive features that grow well in dry to moist soils in full sun to part shade:

• American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) - berries
• Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana) - flowers
• Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) - flowers & berries
• Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) - berries

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Bamboo (Bambusa, Phyllostachys, Pseudosasaspecies)

There are a number of tall native grasses that grow in dry soils & may be used as a natural privacy screen or ornamental "living wall":

• Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) ~this most closely resembles bamboo~
• Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
• Sugarcane plumegrass (Saccharum giganteum)
• Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
• Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

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Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

There are a number of native shrubs that have thorns, berries, and/or are tolerant of dry conditions that grow in full sun to part shade:

• Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
• Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
• Smooth rose (Rosa blanda), also see Rosa caroliniana
• Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
• Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)

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Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

There are a number of native woody vines with attractive features that grow in dry sites in full sun to part shade:

• American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) - berries
• Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana) - flowers
• Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) - flowers & berries
• Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) - berries

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Autumn olive, Russian olive (Elaeagnus umbellata, E. angustifolia)

There are a number of native shrubs that grow in moist to dry soils in full sun to part shade that produce showy flowers and/or fruits:

• Red chokeberry(Aronia arbutifolia)
• Strawberry-bush (Euonymus americanus)
• Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
• Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
• Beach plum (Prunus maritima)

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Winged burning bush (Euonymus alata)

There are a number of native shrubs that have striking autumn foliage that grow in full sun - part shade in dry sites:

• Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii, F. major)
• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
• Sumac (Rhus aromatica, R. copallina)
• Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
• Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides, syn. V. alnifolium)
• Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

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English ivy (Hedera helix)

There are a number of native alternative climbing vines and evergreen groundcovers:

~Climbing vines~
• Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) - also excellent groundcover
• Fox grape (Vitis labrusca)
 
~Evergreen groundcover~
• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos urva-ursi)
• Allegheny pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens)
• Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) 

~Evergreen climbing fern~
• American climbing ferrn (Lygodium palmatum)

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Privet (Ligustrum vulgare, L. obtusifolium, L. sinense, L. japonicum)

There are a number of native shrubs that do well in various settings & make good hedges:

• Black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)
• Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
• Fetterbush (Leucothoe racemosa) 
• Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)

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Amur, Morrow's, Bell 's, Tatarian, and other shrub honeysuckles (Lonicera maackii, L. morrowii, L. tatarica, L. x bella )

There are a number of native shrubs that do well in dry conditions with showy flowers:

• Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parvifolia)
• Northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
• Eastern leatherwood (Dirca palustris)
• Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
• American fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis) 

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Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

There are a number of tall native wildflowers with striking purple-ish inflorescences that grow in full - part sun & moist soils:

• Giant blue hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
• Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
• Joe-pye weeds (Eupatorium dubium, E. fistolosum, E. purpureum)
• Northern blazing star (Liatris spicata)
• New York ironweed (Vernonia noveborcensis)

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Exotic wisterias (Wisteria sinensis, W. floribunda)

There are a number of native woody vines with striking flowers:

• Trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans)
• Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana)
• Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
• American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)

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Content & photos © 2005-06 Marielle Anzelone & Drosera, unless otherwise noted.
Site design by electrofork.
 


Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a native tree with bright fall foliage, making it a good replacement for exotic maples.

 


Consider the showy native vine trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) as an alternative to porcelainberry. It's like a hummingbird feeder, but much more attractive.

 


The autumnal burgundy hues of the native grass little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).Gold and burnt orange plants are also common.

 


Native shrub winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a favorite fall food for birds.


Native vine trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) at the MET.


Native shrub strawberry-bush (Euonymus americana) and its "berries".

 


Native shrub nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) has showy fall color.

 


Hollow joe-pye weed (Eupatorium fistulosum) {syn. Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus}, an excellent native substitute for the noxious weed, purple loosestrife.

 


Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), a native wildflower that attracts humans and butterflies alike with its beautiful pink blossoms.

 


The fast-growing native vine trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans) has shiny green leaves and large, bright blooms.