15 Plants That Will Destroy Your Garden

There are pretty plants that bring color and beauty to your garden — and there are plants that will, given the chance, destroy it. While most of them are ones you've added to your garden voluntarily or a previous owner unwittingly added, these horrors will overtake other plants, drive roots all over your yard, or simply grow out of control. Some are even poisonous or spikey. Here are some plants you should avoid at all costs when you're shopping for what can take root in your garden.

 At first, you might be drawn to the lovely purple blooms that really do open at daybreak. Later you will discover they have taken over all your other plants and killed them and, when you try to pull the morning glory out, it's vines have crept and rooted throughout your yard. True story: I'm still trying to eradicate the morning glory in my yard, and it's been 10 years that I've been trying to best it. Putting down a weed web helps, but the deep roots are wily.

This invasive ground cover looks great, but does more harm than good. It can kill the trees that it climbs, damage structures, and smother native plants on the ground valuable to wildlife. And, oh yeah, it hosts bacterial leaf scorch which can infect other plants. If you use it as ground cover, be warned: rats love to hide in it. If you pull it out, make sure you get the roots and consider doing this in winter, when the plant is dormant. 

While this is both drought and deer tolerant, pass by Japanese Barberry when adding plants to your yard. It's invasive, has hidden barbs that make it tough to handle, and black-legged ticks (often carriers of Lyme disease) love the stuff. If you find it, mow it three to six times a year to sap its strength or try a flame weeder.

These gorgeous, draping vines are hard to resist (they look beautiful in arches), but you may want to at least think twice before putting them in your backyard. They're invasive (and grow quickly), can push out other plants and even kill young trees. Prune the plant in early to mid-summer, and when new shoots start to look unruly to keep it in line.

While it can be argued that mint being invasive just gives you an excuse to make mojitos nonstop, maybe you're better off growing mint in a container. It's not great ground cover, and can root deeply — and grow quickly. Try pouring boiling water onto new growth or covering the mint with a plastic tarp to stop it from spreading wildly.

Everything is made out of bamboo these days, and much is made about it as a renewable resource — but that doesn't make it ideal for your backyard. It spreads quickly and is hard to contain — which means it may not stay just your problem, but your neighbors, too. Even if you install edging, bamboo can get past it. It's also hard to remove, which your neighbor will likely enjoy. If you decide to get rid of it, grab a hacksaw and chop away, then dig up the roots, which can go as deep as three feet. On the bright side, you can lay any bamboo you cut down in the sun for fencing or other projects.

While these pretty purple flowers seem like a grand addition to your garden, just say no. The periwinkle forms a dense ground cover (good) and swamps everything else (really bad). Worse, it has no problem burying plants wildlife need while offering nothing beyond pretty flowers. To get rid of it, you'll have to yank it out, so wait until after a rain when the roots are a little looser. 

This is another invasive plant that spreads, climbs, and yes, creeps. It's also a fast spreader and hard to get out of your garden once it's in there. And did we mention it irritates the skin of some people? Pulling it out can be a pain in more ways than one, but it's the most effective way to get rid of it. Try to catch sny regrowth early, when it's easier to handle.

If you live in a hot climate, you've probably already seen these strange-looking plants. They're tough, easy to grow, and drought-tolerant. Sounds great, right? It also attracts tons of bugs, has sharp leaves, and invasive roots. Getting tid of it requres digging up all the soil around the plant just to make sure you're getting its roots. One trick:  before the soil freezes for winter, waterlog the plant. Since it prefers dry soil, this will hopefully make the root rot. If you have to have a yucca, consider one in a pot. 

You really don't want to tangle with tansy. Sure, it has cute yellow puffs when it blooms, but it's invasive and spreads like wildfire — both its roots and seeds can take dig in and grow. Also, it's poisonous, so you'll want to keep it away from kids and pets who might be tempted to stick those pretty yellow blooms in their mouths. To get rid of it, pull it out while wearing protective gloves. 

You've probably seen this all over your local plant store, and why not? It's pretty and seems like a butterfly-friendly plant, right? Well, it's not, plus it's invasive and actually crowds out plants butterflies and caterpillars need. To get rid of it, try pulling it up when it first flowers but hasn't sprouted seeds. 

While this has been a garden favorite for years, it's invasive and quickly overtakes native plants. It's probably best not to get this (look into native honeysuckle) but if it's already in your yard, consider prescribed burning or (less scary) hand pulling.

This is probably stuck in your head from The Grapes of Wrath, but either way this is a very invasive plant despite its cute blossoms that come in purple and pink, red and white, and blue and pink. Get it out by pulling it up by the roots. Use an uprooter tool to save your back.

This is a beautiful plant with large leaves and bright blooms, but it's also poisonous (you've undoubtedly heard about ricin, which has no known antidote). If it's in your yard, cut down the stems and toss seeds in the landfill, but be sure to protect yourself before you start. Wear goggles, gloves, and protective clothing. 

This is a striking addition to any yard, but look for a different bush if you can. While not as invasive as some bad actors, birds tend to drop the seeds in meadowlands, where they can form thickets and drown out native plants. If you have one and want to get rid of it, pull out the plant by hand.