There’s good news and bad news when it comes to invasive species in gardens and landscapes. The bad news is that invasive plants are frequently planted as ornamentals, and numerous invasive species are widely accessible for purchase from nurseries and garden centers, as well as as components of wildflower seed mixes. The good news is that there are thousands of lovely non-invasive plants to pick from. While many of the most well-known garden plants aren’t native to the Midwest, the vast majority of them aren’t invasive. Non-native plants such as hostas, hybrid tea roses, most garden hydrangeas, boxwoods, tulips, daffodils, garden salvias, dwarf shrub junipers, and peonies, for example, are not known to be invasive in the region.
There are hundreds of beautiful and distinctive native plant species that make great food and habitat for native birds, mammals, and pollinating insects if you want to take it a step further and develop an environmentally friendly garden. We’ll share our suggestions and techniques for avoiding invasive landscape plants, as well as resources for finding acceptable replacements, in the sections below. For the expense of travel, MIPN staff are also available to speak to groups about invasive species and landscaping.
Japanese barberry, tawny daylily, smaller celandine, reed canary grass, forest forget-me-not, water hyacinth, purple wand loosestrife (from left to right).
Avoiding Invasive Plants
The table below lists a “dauntless dozen” invasive landscaping plants that are still for sale (where not restricted by state law), as well as the difficulties they cause and a native replacement recommendation. Download our free Landscape Alternatives app for iOS or Android for a more comprehensive list with photographs. Simply search for “landscape alternatives” in your app store. A copy of the accompanying booklet is also available for download. Avoid purchasing or planting any of these problematic species, and if you already have them, consider digging them up and replacing them! If you see any of these species for sale at a nursery or garden center, speak with the management and request that invasive plants be removed from the inventory.
In addition to not planting invasive plants on purpose, gardeners should keep an eye out for invasives emerging from seeds scattered by the wind or birds. Gardeners should also be sure to buy weed-free compost, mulch, and hay. Check out our consumer fact sheet to learn more about weed-free certified products. If you manufacture or sell garden goods, we also have a fact sheet for you.
Gardening with Natives
There are many non-invasive exotic garden plants, however native plants can have extra environmental benefits. Native plants in the Midwest evolved in tandem with native birds, creatures, and insects, and they frequently provide greater habitat and food supplies. The key to selecting a native plant (or any plant, for that matter) is to match the plant’s traits to your garden goals, as well as the plant’s requirements to the site conditions. When it comes to trees and huge bushes, the maximum size of the plant must meet the available space. It is critical that all plants be planted in a site that fits their requirements for light, soil richness, and moisture.
Here are some fantastic resources to assist you in selecting plants for your Midwest garden:
- The native plant or wildflower society in your state (IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI, ON)
Please let us know if you’d want MIPN to speak to a gardening club or native plant group about landscape invasives. We will need a stipend to cover travel expenses, but no honorarium is expected. Within 3 hours of Chicago, travel expenditures are normally $100 or less, and $200 to $300 elsewhere in the Midwest. Here’s a recent presentation we made for an occasion like this. We may be able to provide live or preserved samples depending on the time of year!
How do you keep hostas from spreading?
Other Techniques for Preventing Hostas from Spreading
- You can dig up your Hosta in the spring and divide it in half, thirds, or whatever you like. Only one of the divisions should be replanted in its original position. This will cause it to slow down indefinitely.
Does the hosta plant spread?
Hostas bloom late in the season, yet they swiftly spread out to fill their designated area. They grow slowly, taking two to four years to reach full size, with the largest species and cultivars taking much longer. Allow lots of space while planting to accommodate their eventual size. Small variations spread out three times their height. Larger kinds are at least twice as wide as they are tall, while medium-sized types are twice as wide as they are tall.
Hostas are disease-resistant, but slugs and snails can’t stand their succulent leaves. Keep an eye on the sprouting leaves and eliminate the intruders as you come across them. Use exclusion measures such as ash rings around the plants or beer saucers as bait in moist, humid areas.
Where should you not plant hostas?
- Hostas can be purchased as dormant bare-root divisions or potted plants and planted in the spring or fall.
- Hostas can be planted throughout the summer growth season, but they will require extra care (mainly watering) to avoid succumbing to the heat.
Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site
- Hostas thrive in partial shade or dappled shade, although they can also thrive in severe shade.
- The soil should drain effectively and have a pH that is between between slightly acidic and neutral (6.5 to 7.0).
How to Plant Hostas
- Dig a hole that is double the breadth and depth of the plant’s root ball. The roots of the hosta will benefit from loosening the soil in the planting area as they extend outward.
- Place the plants in the hole so that their crowns (bases) are level with the surrounding soil and any emerging leaf tips are visible above the soil surface.
- To settle the roots, gently dampen the soil around the plants and water until it is moist.
Do hostas spread quickly?
Hosta types are versatile and easy to grow, and once established, they spread quickly. Healthy clumps of hostas can be divided into smaller clumps every few years to share with friends, family, and neighbors, and they develop from rhizomes that spread just below soil level.
Are hosta roots invasive?
Hostas thrive in a wide range of light conditions, from complete shade to near-full sun, making them perfect for planting under trees. I prefer to make a ring of Hostas around a tree. It’s far better for the tree than mulching the trunk. The Hostas are easy to mow and require little upkeep.
Allow your imagination to go wild when planting a Hosta bed. Plant several huge leaf Hostas first, then a swirling line of smaller ones around them. Plant no straight lines since they can be dull. Combination of solid and variegated species
Do hostas grow bigger every year?
Hostas are perennials, which means they will return year after year, bigger and better. In Zones 3 to 9, most hostas thrive. These adaptable shade plants generate a pile of leaves, but each variety has its own characteristics, such as plant size, leaf shape, and leaf color.
Are hostas toxic to dogs?
Hostas are well-known for their low-maintenance nature. They grow quickly and require very little care. If you have a pet, though, you must keep an eye on them around your Hostas. Hostas is harmful to pets because of the poisons glycoside saponins.
Are hostas self seeding?
Yes, if the appropriate conditions exist, hostas can self-seed. Not all hosta cultivars, however, are fruitful. It’s possible that some of them won’t generate viable seeds. Furthermore, the new hostas may or may not look like the parent plant.
How long will hostas live?
The good news is that this section of the website isn’t particularly lengthy. Hostas are low-maintenance plants that can live for 30 years or more if properly cared for. While it is well-known for growing in the shadow, the truth is more complicated. Dappled shade is the optimum situation. Planting hostas on the north side of the building, where no sunlight reaches them, will not bring out the best in them.
Hostas have a wide range of solar tolerance as well.
Some (which are noted in our catalog) are quite sun tolerant, particularly in colder locations. Others, especially those with a lot of variegation, are more sensitive and can burn if they get too much sun. The more sun your plants get, the more crucial appropriate watering becomes for them.
Do hostas survive winter?
Hostas are a hardy perennial that thrives in zones 3 through 9. This plant can withstand cold weather, but it will require some adjustments to prepare for the change in season. During the dormant season, Hostas really benefit from the cooler temperatures. The chilly temperature is beneficial to one’s health and growth. The leaves of hostas must dry up and wilt to the ground before they may be prepared for winter. While this is going on, the plant is preparing nourishment for the following season’s development. Do not cut it back until the operation is finished. After a good hard winter, Hostas go dormant.
Cut the plant to the ground once the foliage has withered. A small layer of mulch around the roots will help protect them from temperature changes. Hostas benefit from a good chilling period.