These 12 plants are totally overrated, say gardening experts

Have you ever wondered whether some plants are just a bit overrated plants? It’s an unspoken truth that many of the world’s most popular plants are actually hated by experts.

It might be because they take a lot of effort to grow, or they’re prone to greedily taking up too much space. Maybe they're pretty but horribly invasive. Or maybe they're just, well, maybe they're just so done by this point.

We spend a lot of time talking about the best perennials – and we have a lot of opinions on the most underrated plants, too – but there are plenty of reasons to challenge your perceptions of gardening, especially if it keeps you from making a mistake in your beloved outdoor space.

12 of the most overrated plants

This is one of those gardening articles that has the potential to get controversial, quickly. You should have heard the buzz of shocked voices when some of the Homes & Gardens team began sharing their thoughts on the most overrated plants.

With that warning in place, then, let's dive on in.

1. Daffodils

Learning how to plant daffodils might be the first chapter of Gardening 101, but Tenielle Jordison, Garden News Writer at Homes & Gardens, has them pegged as one of the most overrated plants, much to the dismay of her colleagues.

'I think they are beautiful, but I also think they can be overused,' she explains, noting that she's speaking specifically about the solid yellow varieties that thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. 'White daffodils, however, always catch my eye.'

It's worth noting that some gardeners also wrinkle their noses up at daffodils because it's important to refrain from cutting them back after they've finished blooming for at least six weeks, which can feel like a very long time when you're staring at withering, browning foliage.

2. Fountain grass

Nobody can deny the drama and texture that comes from planting ornamental grasses, but there are some varieties which experts count among the most overrated plants. Or rather, there's one variety.

'A popular ornamental grass is the fountain grass, Pennisetum alopecuroides, which is generally hardy in USDA zones 5-9,' says Andrew Bunting, VP of Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and author of The Plant Lovers Guide To Magnolias (available on Amazon).

'However, is a prolific seeder and will quickly overwhelm a garden with its offspring. Instead, plant the native prairie dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis, which has a similar stature and a popcorn-like fragrance when it flowers,' he suggests.

It's a wallet-friendly swap, as you can pick up 200 Sporobolus Heterolepis Seeds from Walmart for just $3.

Andrew Bunting

Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Horticulture and leads the utilization of planting and design to promote environmentally sound gardening practices at PHS. Prior to arriving at PHS, Andrew worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Chanticleer Garden, and the Scott Arboretum for a tenure of 27 years, and has received many commendations for his work. In 2015, Andrew published his first book, “The Plant Lover’s Guide to Magnolias.” 

3. Peonies

Peonies? One of the most overrated plants? Peonies?! Absolutely, according to Sophia Pouget de St Victor at Homes & Gardens.

'They're undeniably beautiful, but they flower for all of 30 seconds and then they're gone,' she says dismissively of these diva-like plants. And, to be fair, she has a point: their flowers only last for 7-10 days usually. A cut-and-come-again flower they are not.

If you love flouncy blooms, you might be better off planting something like dahlias, which tend to flower all summer long.

Try the Dinnerplate dahlia mix from Walmart for a bountiful buffet of large, colourful flowers.

4. Privet

You might not expect an evergreen shrub to be on a list of the most overrated plants, and yet here we are with the not-so-humble privet.

'The privet hedge, Ligustrum ovalifolium, is one of the most popular of all the plants used for hedging,' says Andrew. 'It grows very quickly and requires regular pruning and maintenance. Worse, it has also become a significant invasive plant.'

Yes, privet is one of those garden bullies which outcompetes native plants for resources and spreads incredibly easily. Thankfully, Andrew says 'it can be replaced with evergreens such as Thuja ‘Green Giant’ or inkberry holly, Ilex glabra'.

5. Hostas

They might be the darling of RHS Chelsea Flower Show year in and year out, but the oh-so-striking hosta has also earned itself a place on our list of most overrated plants.

'Yes, hostas can look good. But often they're covered in holes and go slimy as they die back,' says Gardens Content Editor Drew Swainston, who worked as a professional gardener for many years.

'Hostas are so popular and for very good reason. They grow so well in shade gardens and their foliage is available in many different shades of green. The shoots are even edible and they usually have lilac or white flowers,' adds Ellen Mary Webster, author and professional gardener.

'However, hostas are loved by deer and slugs, plus they need plenty of moisture and will soon wilt in hot sun. So unless they are planted in the perfect place, you might find they are not the plant for your garden.'

It's also worth noting here that hostas are incredibly picky plants; all it takes is the wrong kind of soil, watering conditions, climate, or even just the wrong spot in your garden to send them into a sulk.

With that in mind, then, take care to brush up on hostas care and growing tips before leaning hard into your hosta era.

Or you could try another of our favourite part-shade perennials; something like these hellebores from Walmart could be a good low-maintenance alternative.

Ellen Mary Webster

Ellen Mary is an experienced horticulturist, author and wellness advocate, and has appeared on TV in the USA and the UK. She has also spoken at shows around the world for many years, including BBC Gardeners World Live and RHS Hampton Court to name a few, and as a copywriter has articles published in many magazines, including Amateur Gardening Magazine and Grow Your Own.

6. Burning bush

Another unexpected addition to our list of the most overrated plants? The burning bush or fire bush (Euonymus alatus), which is beloved for its ability to burst into an explosion of riotous color come fall.

'Burning bush is still planted as an ornamental with excellent red fall color. However, it is very invasive and invades local woodlands, displacing native plants,' says Andrew. Instead, he advises you 'plant the native Aronia arbutifolia, red chokeberry, which also has red fall color and attractive red fruits in the fall'.

Hardy in zones 3 - 8, you can pick up red chokeberry seeds easily enough at Walmart (although it might be easier buying a ready-grown plant from a garden centre if you want instant impact).

7. Lupins

We never thought we'd see this garden border favourite on the hit list, but Sophia has branded lupins as one of her most overrated plants.

'They're always demolished by aphids,' she says, noting that these cottage garden staples, which thrive in USDA zones 4-8, often wind up with curled leaves and stunted growth as a result of these pesky garden pests. Powdery mildew, too, can cause them to yellow and brown.

'They also look too rigid and pristine,' she adds, although Rachel Bull, our Head of Gardens, says that it's worth it for the beautiful cut flowers ('You can lean them on a bucket edge once cut to encourage them to form into a more naturalistic shape,' she says).

8. Sea oats

If you're designing a garden from scratch, it's best to think carefully about which grasses you plant – as, yes, yet another has wound up on our list of most overrated plants.

'Sea oats, or Chasmanthium latifolium, was promoted as an attractive native grass, which it is,' says Andrew. 'However, it sets copious amounts of viable seed, which means that a garden is soon taken over by this grass.'

If you'd like another native grass that can be used as a substitute, Andrew recommends the little bluestem or beard grass, Schizachyrium scoparium, which can be grown in USDA zones 3 through 9.

You can pick up a Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) in 6.5" Pot at Walmart.

9. Bamboo

While its dense, evergreen leafy appearance makes it an ideal plant for achieving garden privacy ideas, bamboo has earned a place on our list of overrated plants, too.

'Some species of bamboo grows far too quickly and running varieties can even spread quickly underground and pop up in lawns, next door gardens and even between paving,' says Ellen Mary.

'It’s so hard to remove when it’s matured and taken over, in fact if left for too long without removal, it can completely take out other vegetation, creep into waterways and cause damage to homes.'

With that in mind, then, take care to learn how to stop bamboo from spreading before you plant any,

10. Barberry

Barberry (berberis thunbergii) are positively renowned for their foliage, flowers, berries, and sharp spikes, which makes them ideal for hedging. So, why are these fast-growing shrubs so overrated?

'Berberis has been planted for boundary protection and for the colourful flowers, but it is banned or at least restricted in many states because it is invasive, and even gives ticks a home,' warns Ellen Mary.

Be sure, then, to invest in a tick remover kit from Amazon if you're planning on planting one.

11. Boxwood

Once upon a time, boxwood (buxus) was the cornerstone of many gardens; hardy in hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, the glossy evergreen could frequently be spotted as the backdrop for beds and formal gardens.

Nowadays, though, people are all too aware of boxwood blight, a widespread fungal problem prevalent in more than 30 US states, and the gluttonous box tree moth which arrived in the US in 2021.

Both are perilous to the buxus family, which is why so many gardeners recommend you look to beautiful boxwood alternatives, like yew and Japanese holly, which do the same job and are less prone to pests and diseases.

12. Wisteria

Often considered one of the best climbing plants, wisteria has enjoyed a boom in popularity since Bridgerton first aired on Netflix. That being said, some varieties are best avoided.

'Known for its beautiful lilac and white blooms but non-native wisteria, like Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda, is very invasive in many states, especially the south,' says Ellen Mary of this overrated plant.

'It can completely take over trees, damage buildings and grow incredibly fast. So it does look beautiful but behind those stunning flowers is one aggressive specimen!'

Take care to, then, to avoid being wooed by those stunning purple blooms, and plant one of our gorgeous native alternatives to invasive wisteria instead.

FAQs

What plants inhibit the growth of other plants?

One of the worst traits of overrated plants? Their unerring ability to inhibit the growth of other plants, which is why liriope spicata is best avoided.

'It's a popular grass-like evergreen groundcover, but it is so aggressive that it will choke out all other perennials,' warns Andrew Bunting of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 'Try instead a more clump-forming type of lilyturf like Liriope muscari.'

Now you know the most overrated plants, it's a good idea to sit back and think hard as to whether you agree with them. Gardening is, after all, entirely subjective – one person's old fashioned flower is another's vintage dream.

Be sure to check out the best flowering ground cover plants if you need a little guidance when it comes to filling your garden borders. Or, if you want to go bigger, consider one of the underrated trees that can make a huge impact.