8 species gardening experts regret planting in their yards, so you can avoid learning the hard way

Even if you've studied horticulture, or swotted up on social media, gardening is a process that is so often learned by experience. This is built up through years of trial and error – even for professionals. Surprisingly, there are a number of plants gardening experts regret planting in their yards.

Landscaping mistakes are something most people go through. A beautiful flowering shrub or a particular tree may catch your eye, but it might not be suitable for your space for a number of reasons. It's why 'right plant, right place' is a mantra true for most experienced gardeners.

And although researching the appropriate USDA hardiness zones and conditions that plants like is always worthwhile, there are a few repeat offenders that may grow well in your garden, but often end up on regret lists. Usually, because they grow a little too well. So which plants do gardeners, landscapers and their clients regret planting?

1. Running Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)

Bamboo became popular as a fast-growing hedge, for its ability to turn bare perimeters into lush living privacy screens in a short space of time. However, it's this rapid growth habit that has made it problematic – and running bamboo is now deemed an invasive hedge plant to avoid in many regions.

Landscape designer, Ward Dilmore, founder, Petrus Luxury Estate Landscaping tells us why people regret planting running bamboo and why he deters his clients from this plant.

'Bamboo can add a beautiful and unique look to your gardens and is often a popular request for those who are hoping to create a Japanese garden style in their landscape,' says Ward. 'However, there are certain types of running bamboo that are so invasive that they are illegal to plant in many areas of the country.

'Bamboo is in fact a type of grass and spreads via rhizomes that sprout up from the ground in the spring. These sprouts can become so strong that they will pierce concrete. As a result they are illegal to plant in many HOA’s across the country and they are very difficult to remove.

'There are some types of bamboo that are not invasive and can stay relatively contained in your gardens. Clumping bamboos are a great alternative type to invasive running bamboo, as it will stay in a contained area and does not have the invasive rhizomes of other varieties.

'As another alternative, there are some Japanese Forest grasses (Hakonecloa macra) that can offer an interesting bamboo style to your garden. Japanese Maples are a great alternative to bamboo. There are endless varieties of Japanese Maple and creating a small forest of them can be a stunning landscape feature.'

This Tamekuyama Japanese maple tree from Fast Growing Trees is a beautiful plant for privacy in a front yard.

Ward Dilmore

Ward Dilmore is an experienced Landscape Designer and Architect based in the California Bay area. He is also the Founder of Petrus, a renowned Luxury Estate Landscaping Company. Ward’s journey into landscaping began with a strong connection to nature and a sharp eye for detail developed over years of caring for private estates.

2. English ivy (Hedera helix)

Whilst English ivy climbing over walls, lends a beautiful old world charm to landscapes, especially if you love cottage garden ideas, growing this plant can lead to regret. As it's a fast-growing vine, English ivy can easily spread out of control without regular pruning and can create extra work to keep it in check.

'Botanically known as Hedera helix, English Ivy can have a classic look when growing on a brick wall or building,' says Ward. 'Although, here in California it is also one of the most invasive vines that we come across. We have worked on many neglected landscapes with dense Ivy growing on the ground and into trees.

'A fantastic alternative to English Ivy is creeping fig (Ficus pumila) which has very small dense leaves that can cover a fence within a couple of seasons. This evergreen stays very compact and requires little pruning or maintenance.'

This Ficus Pumila creeping fig vine from Perfect Plants will grow in zones 8, 9, 10 and 11 and is suitable as a climber or ground cover plant.

3. Wisteria (W. sinsensis and W. floribunda)

Who doesn't love the look of Wisteria? With its spectacular show of pretty lilac-hued flower clusters which appear in late-spring, it's a firm favorite and one of the best climbing plants. However, there are many, who have been drawn in by Wisteria's beautiful blooms, that have rued the day they planted this fast-growing flowering vine.

The main reason is because Chinese Wisteria (W. Sinensis) and Japanese wisteria (W. Floribunda) spread rapidly and can wrap their tendrils around cables, block pipes and climb into neighbouring properties. They can strangle native species too and are considered invasive in some states. Even American wisteria (W. frutescens) will generally require bi-annual pruning, so be prepared to roll up your sleeves or book your gardener regularly.

'This is a popular flowering vine requested by many clients,' says Ward. 'Wisteria can be stunning when climbing across a large arbor. It can also become very invasive, and so heavy and strong that it will break wooden arbors that it may be growing on if they are not strong enough.

'Once Wisteria becomes established, it grows very aggressively at the beginning of the growing season. It may be a good option if one is willing to keep it pruned by trimming it back each winter, though when left on its own it can become quite wild.

'Some great alternatives here in California are different types of Jasmine vine (Jasmine sap.) which can create an easy to maintain wall of fragrant flowers. Star Jasmine has the added benefit of being an evergreen.'

This pretty Star Jasmine vine from Perfect Plants will fill your yard with fragrance and attract pollinators if you're in growing zones, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11. It's also fast-growing but will only need pruning if it outgrows its space or to encourage new growth.

4. Forsythia

With its burst of bright yellow spring blooms, Forsythia is a popular shrub, often used for garden privacy ideas, as it looks lovely and can grow quickly. However, this plant requires regular pruning and doesn't deliver as well as some other plants, where long-lasting color is concerned. It's certainly a shrub that New York-based, landscape designer and founder, Staghorn Living, Kat Aul Cervoni no longer plants.

'The vibrant yellow flowers of this early spring bloomer are a favorite of mine and so many others,' says Kat. 'They’re an especially welcome sight at the end of a long winter and one of the first things to bloom each spring which has made it tempting to put Forsythia in gardens.

'However, this fast-growing shrub has unwieldy, strappy branches that can look unruly and, frankly, dull the entire rest of the season, while taking up tons of space. Plus it spreads quickly, both by suckers from the root system and by rooting off of branches that make contact with the ground. If it’s not pruned and managed regularly, it will quickly colonize into a large unruly clump.

'As an alternative, I would recommend Fothergilla as an early-spring flowering shrub that’s native and has gorgeous frilly white flowers. You can always buy forsythia branches from a local flower shop to have that burst of color inside in a vase (instead of taking over a corner of your garden).'

Kat Aul Cervoni

Landscape designer, Katherine "Kat" Aul Cervoni is the founder and principal of Staghorn Living. Kat creates outdoor spaces that become natural extensions of a home’s interior. A member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, she also mentors young plant enthusiasts and upcoming designers.

5. Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica)

Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica) is considered by many to be one of the best winter flowers for pots, as it can cope without much sun and proffers pretty red flowerheads, when much of the garden is dormant. Yet it's another that New York-based landscape designer, Kat has currently retired from her repertoire, due to its temperamental tendencies in her region.

'I’ve wanted this small-space-friendly and part shade tolerant evergreen shrub to work in so many of our urban gardens,' says Kat. 'But I have found it’s very prone to disease and difficult to get to establish, so I’m taking this high maintenance, finicky shrub off my list for a while.

'I’m sure it’s been an easy shrub for other people in other places, but something about NYC is not agreeing with it. Instead of Skimmia japonica, other low-growing part shade tolerant evergreen plants that are tougher and easier include Leucotheoe and Tassel Fern (polystichum polybepharum).'

6. Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)

Sky blue Asters are pretty perennials, with daisy like flowers that appear in late-summer, and are popular in prairie gardens. However, this is another plant that Kat no longer plants in city spaces. That's not to say that all Aster varieties are off the table. Just this particular type, which Kat finds unsuitable for small gardens.

'I love the beautiful purple flowers that cover this late-season perennial as well as the fact that it’s a native plant and an easy keeper,' says Kat. 'But, the level of aggressiveness by which the straight species of this plant spreads and takes over garden beds makes me regret ever planting it. Especially in smaller gardens.

'It would be better suited in a larger space, and specifically a meadow-style garden where its rapid spreading might be a beneficial feature to get quick coverage of a space, and perhaps other equally aggressive plantings (solidago) will be in play to help manage it.

'A better alternative for garden beds would be clump-forming asters such as Smoother Aster, Purple Dome New England Aster or Aromatic Aster.'

7. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)

It's often the plants that are hardest to control that people regret planting the most. One prolific grower that many are tempted by is Butterfly bush, as they mistakenly think it's a good plant for pollinators. However this is not the case, according to ecological landscape designer, Kim Eierman, founder EcoBeneficial. It's also a non-native species that requires much taming and can harm native plants in the wild.

'In my work as an ecological landscape designer, I often see nonnative plants that clients regret planting,' says Kim. 'One such plant is Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii), an Asian species that is often mistakenly planted as a great plant for butterflies. Simply put, Butterfly Bush is an ecological trap – luring in butterflies with nectar but failing to support any North American butterflies as a larval host plant.

'Nectar production alone does not make a plant a good ecological choice. Making things worse, Butterfly Bush tends to reseed prolifically, naturalizing and displacing ecologically supportive native plants.

'Depending on your region and your site conditions, there are numerous native replacements for Butterfly Bush, including: Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus). Keep in mind that one plant species is never enough. Plant a multitude of native host plants and nectar plants for butterflies.

'Recent research reports a rapid 22% decline in butterfly species in North America from 2000 through 2020. Rethinking our plantings for butterflies is essential to preventing additional losses of butterfly species.'

Kim Eierman

Kim Eierman is the Founder of EcoBeneficial LLC and author, The Pollinator Victory Garden. She is an ecological landscape designer and environmental horticulturist specializing in native plants. Based in New York, Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

8. Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

This pretty shrub offers plenty of spring and fall color, but it is not a good choice, due to its rapid spread. It may even be prohibited in your region, as it stifles native plants in the wild. Avoiding this plant will be better for your yard, neighboring gardens and any surrounding landscapes.

'Japanese Barberry has been planted with abandon for decades in much of North America,' says Kim. 'It’s a tough plant that is easy to grow – but we are now paying an ecological price for planting it.

'This plant belongs in Asia, where it has evolved and where natural checks and balances prevent it from rapidly spreading. Here in North America, Japanese Barberry has no natural pests or diseases to keep it in check, and it spreads prolifically, often creating harmful monocultures in natural areas, and appearing in home landscapes where it was never planted.

'It's now on the invasive species list and “prohibited for sale” in many states. However, Japanese Barberry is still being sold and planted. In my home state of New York, this invasive plant is often the most dominant species in woodlands, displacing the native plants that should be there.

'When my clients have Japanese Barberry, we quickly remove it, replacing it with native plants that provide ecological support. Depending on the site conditions and region, some alternative native shrubs include: Common Wild Rose (Rosa virginiana), Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum), Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) and Northern Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica).'

Gardening, like many things, is a process of trial and error. It's not possible to know in advance, exactly how well a plant will do in your yard, as it is dependent on so many factors.

However, as much as we may want to fill a space with color and greenery, some fast-growing species are best avoided. So do take time to check invasive species lists or any plants that are prohibited for sale, in your region.

Knowing what plants grow in your USDA Hardiness zone and which are native to your region, will result in a garden that is easier to maintain and less harmful to local woodlands and other wild spaces.