I have few gardening regrets, but those I do have largely involve unwanted groundcover plants. Groundcover can be incredibly valuable, but invasive ground cover plants are thugs, and what might start out as one small, innocent-looking addition can quickly turn into a rampaging monster.
I learned this first-hand after planting a single sweet woodruff in a corner of my own backyard. Oh boy did it spread, and when I tried to remove the thick dense mat it created, bits of rhizome (root) broke off and were accidentally transferred around the garden, spreading the problem.
1. Bishop’s Weed or Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
The white flowers of goutweed are deceptively delicate and pretty - but once it has taken root it is almost impossible to remove
Also known as ground elder, this spreads quickly via a shallow mass of roots. It is very hard to eradicate because even the smallest piece of root left in the soil will form a new plant.
Because it favors shady woodlands and is one of the best groundcovers for damp soil, it is at its worst in the Northeast states of New England, New York and Mid‑Atlantic region, and it was recently named in advisory listings.
Safe alternatives include Canadian Wild ginger (Asarum canadense), which is one of the best groundcovers for shade.
This manageable perennial groundcover is suitable for US hardiness zones 2-8, is low-growing and deciduous, with downy, heart-shaped green leaves and intriguing purple-brown, cup-shaped flowers that are sometimes concealed by the foliage. Always wear gloves when handling wild ginger as it can irritate the skin.
Wild ginger pants are available to buy from Nature Hills.
2. Wedelia (Sphagneticola trilobata, formerly Wedelia trilobata)
The yellow flowers of Wedelia look innocent enough, but they will spread like crazy and swiftly become a menace
Wedelia is a native of Mexico and Central America, and is problematic in the warmer states of the USA.
This mat‑forming perennial groundcover plant has attractive yellow daisy‑like flowers, but it spreads fast by throwing out long stems that root wherever they touch the soil.
This makes it hard to eradicate once established, and it grows well in most soil types and degrees of shade. It often escapes from gardens or is spread in dumped garden waste.
Better-behaved alternatives include Coreopsis auriculata or tickseed. This is a must-have perennial that is pollinator-friendly and offers the same attractive sunny daisies as Wedelia. Coreopsis seeds can be bought at True Leaf Market.
3. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Beloved by container gardeners and aquarium owners, creeping Jenny can become a nuisance in the wild
Although its golden-green leaves are attractive, creeping Jenny is considered an invasive groundcover nuisance in many US states.
It spreads by rooting wherever its stems touch the soil, forming carpets of leaves that smother native plants and emerging seedlings.
The way it swiftly out-performs other plants can have a disastrous knock-on effect on the environment, wiping out varieties that are vital for pollinators and seed-eating birds.
Creeping Jenny thrives in damp conditions, it is a popular plant for aquariums. But even here needs to be handled carefully as even the smallest piece of plant washed down a drain or moved to a compost heap can start a new colony.
Safe alternatives include the native common violet (Viola sororia) which is suitable for US hardiness zones 4-8 and is a wild cousin of domesticated violas.
It is a perennial that forms patches of low-growing plants with abundant tiny purple flowers in spring. It prefers damp areas and can be used as groundcover plants for shade.
Mixed violet seeds are available from Amazon.
4. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Wintercreeper is fast-growing and will outpace native shrubs
Also known as Fortune’s spindle, this aggressive climber was originally introduced as an ornamental groundcover plant, but quickly became invasive.
Originating in East Asia, it can tolerate a wide range of conditions, from full sun to deep shade and easily out-competes native species.
It is not to be confused with wildlife-friendly European spindle, which is an attractive deciduous shrub with white flowers and quirky pink-and-orange seeds.
For a preferable groundcover alternative, why not opt for native wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), which can be found across most of the USA and Canada? It produces small white flowers followed by sweet red fruits.
More robust than domesticated strawberries, wild strawberries are hardy in zones 3-8, like full sun to partial shade and damp soil. They are brilliant plants to grow for a wildlife garden and will encourage insects and wildlife to your yard.
Wild strawberry plant pods are available to buy from Amazon.
5. Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia)
Beach vitex was introduced with the good intention of preserving vulnerable sand dune systems, but soon became unmanageable
It is not uncommon for plants to become a problem after being introduced to combat a specific environmental issue.
This is what happened with beach vitex, which was originally used to help stabilise sand dunes along the South Carolina coast following Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Its silvery-green foliage and attractive flowers appeared to make it the perfect choice, but this thuggish plant spreads quickly and outcompetes native species. It also grows in areas where sea turtles breed, and conservationists feared that the thick mats of beach vitex could hinder their nesting.
Safe alternatives that are suitable for coastal gardens include creeping thyme, a deer-resistant, sweet-scented herb that can be grown in hardiness zones 5-9, loves a sunny spot and produces delightful small flowers.
Add it to your herb garden ideas as it is a perfect sustainable gardening groundcover plant, can be used to create an aromatic lawn instead of grass, is a fantastic rock garden plant and grows well along the edges of beds and paths.
Creeping thyme plants can be bought from Nature Hills.
6. Three-cornered leek (Allium triquetum)
Once three-cornered leek arrives in your yard it will spread fast and is extremely difficult to remove
This plant and I have a long and not particularly friendly history. A couple of plants self-seeded in our yard and spread, and now every spring and I try to remove them, but to no avail.
The problem is that the plants grow from small bulblets that break off as you lift them from the soil, making them almost impossible to eradicate.
It spreads incredibly quickly and in America is problematic in the Pacific Northwest, listed as introduced in California and Oregon and registered as a noxious weed in some areas.
Foragers often use it to make pesto instead of wild garlic – I have tried and don’t recommend it – though maybe it could redeem itself if you use its bulblets to make a garlic spray to deter slugs!
However, there are many trouble-free varieties of allium and my favourite is Sicilian honey garlic with its pendant, bell-shaped flowers. Alliums brilliant for pollinators, many have a high impact in the yard, and bulbs are widely available in the fall.
A selection of allium bulbs can be found at Dutch Grown, with more available in the fall.
7. Periwinkle (Vinca minor & Vinca major)
Although Vinca is a popular groundcover choice, if left to its own devices it can become invasive
This may come as a surprise, as periwinkle, or vinca minor and V. major are popular groundcover plants, but they can smother other plants and be hard to remove thanks to an extensive root system. It grows in our garden and regularly makes incursions into the lawn.
If Vinca escapes, it will outcompete native plants, especially in wooded areas, forming dense carpets that little else can grow through.
An attractive native alternative is bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), which is hardy in zones 2-6 and is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with attractive red stems and glossy dark green leaves that turn red or purple in winter.
The flowers are lantern-shaped in pink and white and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They are followed in the fall by red edible berries that will bring winter birds flocking.
Bearberry seeds are available to buy from Amazon.
FAQs
How Do I Remove Invasive Plants?
Although some groundcover plants will stop weeds, treat invasive varieties organically by trying to dig them up using a suitable weeder or hori-hori knife without separating the topgrowth from the roots or bulbs beneath the soil.
Then cover the affected area with weed barrier fabric like this on Amazon, which will block the light and eventually kill the plant beneath, though it may take a couple of seasons. You can also cover this with a mulch of well-rotted compost or bark chippings.
Alternatively, use a glyphosate-free weedkiller like natural weed and grass killer from Amazon. The best time to use this is in spring and autumn when the plant is growing.
Can I Compost Invasive Groundcovers?
Invasive weeds are one of the things you should never add to the compost because the heat generated by the pile can keep unwanted plants alive - just as it does with weed seeds.
Also, if pieces of invasive plant material fall out of the composter they may take hold in the soil. The best course of action is to put the removed plants into your kerbside green waste bin.
Life is full of regrets as it is, so don’t add planting groundcovers you'll regret to the list of yours!
Most groundcover plants are benign and do much to brighten and protect your yards, and there are plenty of safe alternatives to choose from.
