1. Invasive Plant: Japanese Honeysuckle

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a vigorous vine that can quickly become difficult to control. In woodlands and natural areas, it can cover trees and shade out native seedlings. It was introduced to the United States for erosion control but is now invasive in many states.

Native Alternative: Trumpet Honeysuckle

Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), also called coral honeysuckle, is a native alternative with similar flowers and fragrance. It is hardy in Zones 4–9. Its red flowers attract hummingbirds, while its berries provide food for birds.

2. Invasive Plant: Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is known for attracting butterflies and bees, but it can spread aggressively through its seeds. It can invade woodlands and stream areas and displace native plants. It primarily provides nectar for adult butterflies rather than supporting butterfly larvae.

Native Alternative: California Lilac

California lilac (Ceanothus) produces fragrant blue-purple flowers and supports butterflies throughout their life cycle. It is drought-tolerant and hardy in Zones 8–10. The 'Victoria' cultivar is somewhat more cold-hardy and can grow in Zone 7.

3. Invasive Plant: English Ivy

English ivy (Hedera helix) can become invasive when it spreads into natural areas. It can climb and cover trees and form dense groundcover that prevents other plants from growing. It can also provide habitat for rats in urban and suburban areas.

Native Alternative: Cross Vine

Cross vine (Bignonia capreolata) is an evergreen, woody vine native to the southeastern United States. It produces yellow and mahogany flowers and dense foliage.

It can grow 30–50 feet tall and spread up to 9 feet wide, making it useful for covering large walls or structures. Its flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It grows in Zones 6–9.

4. Invasive Plant: Japanese Barberry

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is valued for its colorful foliage and berries but has become invasive across much of the eastern and midwestern United States. It can spread into natural areas and displace native plants.

Native Alternative: Beautyberry

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a North American native shrub that produces bright purple berries in Zones 5–10. Its foliage turns magenta-purple in fall.

Its berries and seeds provide food for songbirds, deer, and squirrels. The plant also produces flowers in spring and summer that attract butterflies and other native insects.

5. Invasive Plant: Burning Bush

Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is an Asian shrub that produces attractive fall color and fruit. Birds spread its seeds, allowing it to invade forests, fields, and coastal areas. It can displace native plants that provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Native Alternative: Chokecherry

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) provides similar seasonal interest without the invasive growth of burning bush. It is native to much of North America and grows in Zones 2–10.

It produces bright orange-red fall foliage and scarlet berries. The berries and foliage provide valuable resources for wildlife, including butterflies, moths, and songbirds.

6. Invasive Plant: Japanese Spirea

Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) is valued for its pink or white flowers and colorful fall foliage. However, it has escaped cultivation and is invasive in parts of the mid-Atlantic region.

Native Alternative: Virginia Sweetspire

Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a native shrub that produces fragrant white flowers in early summer and colorful foliage in fall.

It is drought-tolerant, grows in Zones 3–7, and typically reaches about 4 feet tall and wide. The 'Henry's Garnet' variety stays more compact at around 3 feet tall and develops purplish-red fall foliage.

7. Invasive Plant: Japanese Wisteria

Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) is valued for its fragrant purple flowers but can become highly aggressive. It can grow rapidly over surrounding vegetation, eventually girdling and smothering native plants.

Native Alternative: American Wisteria

American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) has fragrant purple flowers and a less aggressive growth habit. It is hardy in Zones 5–9 and can be trained to grow on arbors, walls, and columns.

Its flower clusters are smaller than those of Asian wisteria but remain highly attractive. The plant attracts pollinators and supports the larvae of several butterfly species.

Kentucky wisteria (Wisteria frutescens var. macrostachya) is another closely related native alternative.

8. Invasive Plant: Mimosa

Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) is grown for its showy, fragrant flowers but has become invasive in several states. It can spread aggressively and disrupt native plant communities.

Mimosa also has brittle wood and weak root systems, resulting in a relatively short lifespan. Its seedpods can create additional cleanup problems.

Native Alternative: Eastern Redbud

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) provides attractive spring flowers and a similar small-tree form without the invasive characteristics of mimosa.

It is native to the eastern United States and hardy in Zones 4–9. It produces reddish flower buds that open into pink blossoms in spring and typically grows 20–30 feet tall.

9. Invasive Plant: Large Periwinkle

Large periwinkle (Vinca major) is a fast-growing groundcover valued for its purple flowers and ability to grow in shade. However, it can spread aggressively and crowd out native plants, particularly in wetlands and forests.

Common periwinkle (Vinca minor) can also become invasive.

Native Alternative: Mountain Spurge

Mountain spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), also known as Allegheny spurge, is an evergreen perennial that works well as a shade-tolerant groundcover.

It produces small white flowers in spring and grows relatively slowly, making it less likely to spread aggressively. It is native to the eastern United States and grows in Zones 6–8.

10. Invasive Plant: Chinese Privet

Chinese privet (Ligustrum villosum) is an evergreen shrub or small tree often used as a hedge. It tolerates a wide range of growing conditions and can spread into forests, disturbed areas, and roadsides, where it forms dense thickets that suppress surrounding vegetation.

Native Alternative: Limerock Arrowwood

Limerock arrowwood (Viburnum bracteatum) can be used as a hedge and privacy plant. It grows up to about 12 feet tall and 6–12 feet wide.

It produces white flowers from spring into early summer that attract bees, birds, and butterflies. Native to the highlands of the southern United States, it is hardy in Zones 6–8.