Some invasive plants listed are quite attractive. Consider burning bush (Euonymus alatus) for example—an exotic (or “alien”) shrub from Asia. Few shrubs put on a better fall foliage display. Another fall star is the vine, sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora). A summer standout is Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius). But attractive invasive plants are like some of the good-looking people one meets (you know the type): Once you get past the exterior and learn more about them, you no longer want them to hang out. Looks, after all, can be deceiving. Many invasive plants can be thought of as exotic specimens “gone wild”—as in “out of control.” The following list of 16 invasive plants comprises an introductory collection, but it is by no means an exhaustive list. Ajuga is especially problematic in warmer climates where there is no winter frost to kill the plants back annually. A recent control effort involves bringing goats into areas infested with kudzu and turning them loose to eat their fill. Purple loosestrife is thought to arrive in North America as seeds in soil used as ballast in sailing ships in the early 19th century. Now, 200 years later, it is found in every state in the United States, except Hawaii and Alaska. The plants take over wetlands by forming dense root mats that choke out native plants, degrading wildlife habitat. Since 1992, the governments of Canada and the United States have used to European beetles, Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla, to feed on the plant—an experiment that appears to be successful. If planted in the garden, great care should be taken to keep the plant in check, including aggressively cutting it back regularly. When it escapes, this plant can break tree limbs with its heavy weight and kill shrubs and trees by girdling them with strong vines.
