5 Bulbs You Should Never Plant in Your Garden—and What to Grow Instead These invasive bulbs will take over your landscape. Close Credit: Valeriy Lushchikov / Getty Images Every fall, many gardeners eagerly anticipate planting flowering bulbs that will produce a lush display of color and texture the following spring and summer. However, before making your selections, it's essential to conduct thorough research, as some bulbs aren't native to the U.S. and may cause future problems. Over time, invasive bulbs can take over your garden and become next to impossible to eradicate. To save you this headache, we spoke to a horticulturist and bulb expert, who shared which varieties you should never plant in your garden—and what to grow instead. Peggy Anne Montgomery, horticulturist and bulb expert for Flowerbulb.eu, a website dedicated to flower bulbs 10 Shrubs You Should Never Plant in Your Yard, According to Gardening Experts 01 of 05 Siberian Squill Credit: IngaL / Getty Images Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) is a charming flowering bulb that fills gardens with dainty blue flowers from early to mid-spring, but it's best to resist its beauty. "Siberian squill is invasive in many parts of the U.S., including the Great Lakes Region and the Northeast," says Peggy Anne Montgomery, horticulturist for Flowerbulb.eu. "It spreads by seed and bulblets, outcompeting native plants, thereby reducing biodiversity." Instead, Montgomery recommends growing glory of the snow or blue phlox. If it's too late and you've already planted Siberian squill in your garden, she says to dig out the bulbs or smother them with cardboard, deep mulch, or both. 02 of 05 Spanish Bluebells Credit: Getty Images A spring-flowering perennial bulb, Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) are invasive in some regions of North America, where Montgomery says they can outcompete native plants by spreading through seeds and bulblets. "Known to be invasive in the British Isles, caution is advised in the U.S.," she says. "The USDA lists them as invasive in Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and Washington." In place of Spanish bluebells, consider Virginia bluebells, a native alternative that grows beautifully in shade gardens and woodlands. As its name implies, this plant produces blue, bell-shaped flowers, adding color to gardens from late March to mid-May. 03 of 05 Italian Arum Credit: Getty Images Italian arum (Arum italian) is native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and is considered invasive in many states across the U.S., primary along the west coast. "It was introduced from Europe as an ornamental plant, but it spread very quickly," says Montgomery. "It thrives in moist, shady spots, making it especially problematic in riparian habitats where it outcompetes native plants," she notes. The plants are toxic to humans and animals." Many gardeners plant Italian arum for its ability to thrive in moist, shady spots, without knowing how invasive it is. For a native alternative that also grows in shade, consider toothwort. Like Italian arum, this plant showcases leaves with white veining in winter and goes dormant in summer. In spring, it produces white or pink flowers. 04 of 05 Star of Bethlehem Credit: Getty Images Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is invasive in nearly every state, says Montgomery. "It is a terrible pest in my own garden, as it emerges as thick as grass in the spring," she says. "Our whole neighborhood has a problem with it. I have spent countless hours trying to dig it up, but I’ve given up. It’s almost enough to make you want to move!" If you love its white star-shaped blooms, there are plenty of native alternatives that are equally as show-stopping. Western marsh marigold, for example, is an herbaceous perennial with white flowers and a yellow buttercup-shaped center. Hardy in zones 3 to 7, this plant prefers cool, moist climates. 05 of 05 Bermuda Buttercup Credit: Getty Images Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae) is an invasive species in the oxalis family. It's recognized for its happy yellow flowers that bloom in spring. Introduced to California as an ornamental plant, Bermuda buttercup is now considered invasive. It spreads via underground rhizomes and bulblets, taking over gardens and outcompeting native plants. While some members of the oxalis genus are invasive, not all are. Instead of Bermuda buttercup, consider planting common yellow woodsorrel, a native oxalis variety that also produces cheerful yellow blooms and is distinguished by its clover-like leaves. Explore more: Garden Flower Gardens Sources decorvow is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Spring Is in the Air, and Oxalis Is Everywhere. Pests in the Urban Landscape.