Plant this, not that: Native alternatives to invasive plants

When my family moved into a new home in the spring of 2005, the only plants growing in the garden were a rhododendron by the front door and a few scattered daffodils and ferns. I was delighted to see a stunning perennial pop up a month later.

Further research revealed that, although some plants make their invasive nature known at home , others are wolves in sheeps' clothing. They seem well-contained in the garden but become downright thugs when their seeds are eaten by birds and dispersed elsewhere. NATIVE ALTERNATIVES: California lilac is an evergreen shrub with deep blue flowers that grows well in zones 8-10, or try the white-blossomed wild hydrangea in zones 3-9.INVASIVE: Scotch broom , a nitrogen-fixing legume, is easily established even in the worst growing conditions, and its seeds can remain viable in the soil for decades.

NATIVE ALTERNATIVE: For similarly dramatic red fall foliage in zones 3-8, plant"Autumn Magic" black chokeberry or the fruit-producing Northern high bush blueberry . In zones 2-8, fragrant sumac is a lovely substitute.INVASIVE: The ornamental Miscanthus grass , although still widely sold and planted, has been deemed invasive in more than two dozen states, where it is known to overtake forests, roadsides, fields and other areas.

But for everything, there is a season: Cactuses, the darlings of the past decade, are waning in popularity as bolder statement plants that impart a sense of hominess and warmth take their place. "Things also become popular when they're hard to acquire," Sabharwal said. In the past,"Monsteras were never available in tiny sizes — only with big, giant leaves — and they were expensive. So initially it was hobby gardeners taking clippings and sharing them with each other, then posting photos on Instagram."The plants are more accessible today, so the trend we're seeing is a combination of their good looks, social media popularity and ease of care, Sabharwal said.

Killer plants Carnivorous plants can be tricky to grow, but who doesn't love a good conversation piece?

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