4 Plants Gardeners Say Should 'Come With a Warning Label'

As any gardener will tell you, learning how to grow and maintain a thriving landscape often comes down to trial and error, with much of your success dependent on the soil, climate, and weather—and choosing the right plants.

One Redditor recently started a discussion about the plants they think should come with a warning label for new gardeners. "There are certain plants that are absolutely irresistible to new gardeners, but they’re almost always the things that require at least a little knowledge and experience," they wrote. Other Redditors chimed in with their thoughts on the plants that might seem easy to grow but are more work than most people realize, noting that results may vary depending on location and climate.

Ahead, we’re sharing some of the common plants the online community warned new gardeners about.

Wildflower Seed Mixes

One Redditor immediately advised against planting wildflower seed mixes. "They aren’t usually native to the region, even though people reasonably assume they are. Sometimes they’re even invasive," they wrote. “The seeded plants will rarely outcompete weeds, so beginners don’t know what to pull and end up mostly growing unwanted plants." They added that these mixes often don’t look good aesthetically, as the plants grow to different heights and can appear unkempt.

Arborvitae

The original poster warned against arborvitae, writing that these plants are "just looking for a reason to die, and new gardeners are happy to oblige (it’s almost always water)." A professional gardener and nursery worker added that arborvitae grow quickly and are easy to care for in a nursery, but once they’re in the ground, they need excessive amounts of water for the first two years. Plus, these plants are very attractive to deer. “There are so many other shrubs that work well for a privacy hedge or windbreak,” the commenter added. 

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Lavender

Gardeners in the Reddit community had mixed reactions to lavender, with some saying it's difficult to grow, while others said that it requires no work at all. The original poster wrote that lavender "has very specific needs, and isn’t the easiest thing to grow from seed, but it’s one of the main things I see new gardeners wanting to start from seed." Many noted that it depends on where you live and the climate. "I killed a few lavender until I learned how to neglect it properly. I water it like every fourth time I water everything else!" shared another commenter.

Roses

This one probably doesn't come as a surprise, as roses have a reputation for being difficult to maintain. "I have planted 30-odd bushes since I started gardening a year and a half ago... Everyone emphasizes how tough the plants are. Nobody mentions how much looking after they require and how susceptible they are to pests," one person commented.