Understanding the plant terminology.
We understand this can be a controversial topic and it is a tad technical, but in the plant world it is key to understand that native plants cannot be invasive. They may be enthusiastic growers but they are not generally considered invasive and here is why….
Invasive Plants are non-native species that escape cultivation and invade.
They spread rapidly, and harm native ecosystems. They outcompete local species, reduce biodiversity, and often lack natural checks and balances (like insects or diseases) in their new environments. Think Kudzu, Chinese privet, or Cogongrass – they didn’t evolve here, and they’re seriously disrupting the places they’ve landed.
Native Plants, on the other hand, cannot be invasive, because they belong here.
Even when they’re fast spreaders or grow densely, they’re part of the natural balance. Local wildlife, insects, and soil microbes have co-evolved with them and they are extremely important to wildlife. In nature, these plants are usually the first ones present after disturbance, where existing vegetation has been damaged or removed by some occurrence and they thrive in those conditions. They are made to heal damaged areas and tend to phase out over time. Our gardens are usually areas of high disturbance. Enthusiastic native plants will step into any gaps to heal that disruption and this can be at odds with a gardener’s vision, feeling invasive and overwhelming. Truly, these plants are just doing what they are meant to do.
A native plant might be called aggressive if it spreads quickly in a garden setting. And that’s fair! Some natives are runners, some reseed generously — but that’s different from being invasive.
Some Goldenrods, for example, might spread enthusiastically — but they also support over 100 species of native bees and butterflies. That’s a win for biodiversity.
Goldenrod
So next time a plant is “taking over,” ask:
Is it native?
Is it causing ecological harm?
Or is it just doing its job really well?
You can look for varieties of these plants that are not as vigorous for your gardens and leave the aggressive ones to the roadsides and wild spaces. There is usually a tamer version or species of a plant that is more suited to gardens and small spaces that can be used instead, or you can keep aggressive plants in containers or areas with physical borders like a driveway or brick pathway that might limit their spread or just keep an eye out and plan for a little extra maintenance.
Native plants are our favorite enthusiastic plants!
For more in depth information on Invasive Plants in Louisiana, read on!
