6 Invasive Ground Covers You Should Never Plant—and What to Grow Instead

English Ivy

English ivy is notorious for its ability to spread quickly and overtake an entire garden. It's especially problematic because of its ability to climb.

"Its thick leaves can block sunlight from reaching the tree's foliage," says Tess Renusch, native plant habitat content and certifications coordinator at the National Wildlife Federation. "The added weight of its vines can also make the tree more susceptible to snapping or falling during storms."

It will quickly outcompete native plants, "creating a monoculture 'ivy desert' that provides little benefit to the ecosystem," she adds.

Instead: Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at Louisiana State University, recommends ajuga—which, like English ivy, can thrive in a shady environment. Renusch suggests Virginia creeper, which has beautiful foliage and produces berries that birds love.

Creeping Jenny

Creeping jenny is highly adaptable, so it can thrive in many different conditions, making it very hard to eradicate from your garden. "[Its] stems are capable of rooting where nodes make contact with the ground, allowing it to rapidly spread," says Abdi.

The result is a "dense, sprawling mat that can quickly take over a large area," notes Renusch: "[It's] very difficult to control once it's established."

Instead: She recommends common violet, a great native alternative. It's a host plant for larval Fritillary butterflies, and can also tolerate a wide range of conditions.

Wintercreeper

Also known as fortune's spindle, wintercreeper can spread quickly in a garden, suffocating native plants. It can climb trees, blocking their sunlight and weakening them, and its stems "can root wherever they touch the soil," Renusch notes.

Worse, wintercreeper can spread easily via birds and other wildlife, and is very resilient in the face of poor conditions. So keep a watchful eye out for it in your yard.

Instead: Renusch recommends wild strawberry, which spreads at a manageable rate, she says. It will also provide food for local wildlife.

Wedelia

Wedelia may look beautiful with its yellow, daisy-like flowers, but it can quickly become a big problem for your garden. "[It] creates a dense vegetative mat that can choke out other plants in the landscape," says Abdi.

It's also very hardy, and can stand up to many different weather conditions, as well as weeding and mowing. So once it's established, wedelia can be hard to eradicate.

Instead: If you still want color, then Abdi recommends ornamental sweet potato varieties. They'll provide beautiful foliage and coverage, without the risk of spreading too much.

Vinca

Vinca's glossy leaves and purple flowers may seem lovely, but it's not the best option for a ground cover. It's dense and can quickly smother your landscape.

"[It's] difficult to control, as it spreads via vegetative reproduction," says Abdi. "Even small stem fragments can yield new plants."

Instead: If you still want purple flowers, then Abdi recommends liriope, which is much more manageable. The muscari species, in particular, is a great choice.

Asian Jasmine

Growing Asian jasmine can sometimes work, if it's properly managed and maintained—but it will often spread out of control.

"Neglecting necessary maintenance—trimming, pruning the edges—can allow it to spread to other areas of the landscape," notes Abdi.

Instead: Cast iron plant will create a beautiful floor beneath large trees, says Abdi. Unlike Asian jasmine, it will grow to a more manageable height.