9 Perennials You Need To Stop Planting – They’re Ruining Your Garden!
Yes, you read that title absolutely right! There are certain perennials out there that could possibly be ruining your garden instead of improving it!
In this article, I’m going to tell you why that is and what alternative perennials you can plant to bring the situation under control. Let’s dive right into it!
Why Some Perennials Cause More Harm Than Good?
The first reason why some perennials can cause more harm than good is that they’re invasive and can take over large parts of your garden in a short time. They limit the growth ability of other plants and can keep them from having as big of a visual impact in the garden.
Certain perennials attract tons of pests and insects to the garden that damage other plants surrounding them. This means that, while your perennials may be adding beauty to the landscape, they’re also ruining it.
Many perennials out there also don’t go very well with other plants and tend to create unnecessary competition in the soil that benefits neither of them. Poor nutrient absorption and stunted growth are the two major outcomes of this.
1: Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium Podagraria)
Bishop’s weed spreads rather aggressively and is nearly impossible to remove once it’s properly established in your garden. It can create unwanted competition with your other crops and fill the garden landscape quickly, keeping other plants and perennials from shining through.
- Instead of Bishop’s weed, go for wild ginger. It’s a beautiful, non-invasive ground cover with elegant heart-shaped leaves that won’t take over your garden!
2: Lily Of The Valley (Convallaria Majalis)
Although lily of the valley is an incredibly beautiful perennial, it’s also invasive, spreading quickly underground and choking out other plants. Don’t let its beauty deceive you, and keep you from seeing the damage it could potentially be doing behind the scenes.
- Virginia bluebells are a much better perennial choice compared to lily of the valley. It’s a charming native spring bloomer that’s non-invasive and pollinator-friendly at the same time.
3: Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria)
Purple loosestrife can be highly invasive and harmful to wetlands. Believe it or not, this perennial variety is actually banned in some parts of the world due to the damage it can cause to wetlands and swampy areas.
- Blazing Star is a much better choice for planting instead of Purple Loosestrife. It’s tall, vibrant, and very attractive to butterflies without being overly invasive.
4: Mint (Mentha Spp.)
Yes, mint is technically a herb, but many gardeners plant it as a perennial ground cover and later regret it. It takes over garden beds fast, it’s incredibly hard to get rid of and interferes with the growing ability of other plants within a close enough radius.
- Replace mint with lemon balm. This alternative perennial is much less aggressive when it comes to spreading. You can also go for the Mountain mint variety if you still want the essence of mint.
5: Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana)
Yeah…you can say the name is quite ironic as it’s probably the least obedient perennial out there. It spreads rapidly and becomes very hard to control once its growth begins.
- Opt for Coneflower instead of the obedient plant if you’re planning your garden. This perennial still spreads, but not as rapidly, and it attracts bees and butterflies like crazy!
6: Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)
Despite the wholesome and sweet-sounding name, periwinkles can actually be quite troublesome in the garden. They’re commonly used as ground cover, but they tend to smother other plants when they grow and are super hard to remove.
- Creeping Phlox is a much better alternative to periwinkles. It’s a non-invasive plant, perfect for ground cover with a low spreading habit.
7: Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia Japonica)
I remember talking about Japanese Knotweed in one of my articles, but I don’t recall telling you guys how damaging it can be. It’s definitely one of the most destructive invasive perennials out there, as it can damage structures and take years to eliminate.
- Joe-Pye weed is a much better perennial option that’s tall, beautiful, and supports pollinators without totally destroying your garden.
8: Tansy (Tanacetum Vulgare)
Although tansies offer round, vibrant blooms that look quite aesthetically pleasing in the garden, the problem is that they can be invasive and toxic to pets and livestock.
- Coreopsis are non-invasive and drought-tolerant, making them a substantially better choice for an average garden.
9: Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum Galeobdolon)
Although yellow archangels look extremely pretty in shade gardens, they spread aggressively and are considerably hard to contain once they’re in their growth phase.
- Replace yellow archangels with foamflowers as they offer a similar visual appeal, but thankfully stay where you plant them.
Conclusion
Now that you have a good understanding of how certain perennials damage your garden while appearing like they’re “improving” it, it’s up to you to decide what you want to do about them.
You can either remove them and let your other plants grow in peace or plant alternatives that add to the harmony of your garden instead of taking away from it. Either way works.
I’m Rita, passionate about flowers, plants and growing my own vegetables at home. I live in an apartment, but I still have my garden, I intend to use all my knowledge to help you also have a lively, happy and productive garden (even in an apartment).