19 Aggressive Native Plants That Can Battle Invasive Species

Have you ever been out walking in the forest and spotted entire areas of English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, or Japanese knotweed? It’s a sorry sight to see. Ivy smothers trees and shrubs, blackberry covers large forested areas, and knotweed is impossible to remove. Species like these three are unmanageable outside of their native range. 

So, what makes a plant invasive? Invasive species are non-native, originating from other states, countries, or continents. Native plants can be aggressive, but they cannot be invasive in their natural habitat. Once out of their habitat, they have the potential for invasiveness. A plant can be native in New York and invasive in California. 

Wild bergamot is an herbaceous perennial, meaning it dies back to its roots during cold weather and sprouts new shoots in spring. If invasive plants are cold-hardy, they may smother it in winter; pull weed seedlings throughout the winter, and your bergamot will cover the area during the growing season. 

Anise Hyssop

	common name Anise Hyssop
	botanical name Agastache foeniculum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Like wild bergamot, anise hyssop is a native mint relative with aggressive spreading capabilities. It fills empty spaces with aromatic, herbal foliage and bright purple flower spikes. Over time, it forms large clumps, growing taller and wider each year. 

If you have many summer weeds like purslane and spurge, consider planting large swaths of anise hyssop. Its clumps will connect as they widen, creating dense cover over bare soil. Invasive species struggle to move in on the covered ground, letting your native species dominate. 

Lance Selfheal

	common name Lance Selfheal
	botanical name Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10”
	hardiness zones 4-9

This wildflower competes with the weedy selfheal from Europe! Lance selfheal is a native species from North America, making it a suitable and more aggressive alternative. It grows lance-shaped green leaves and bulging purple flower clusters. 

This low-growing perennial spreads with seeds and rooting stems. It’s perfect for rock gardens, cottage gardens, and borders with bare dirt. Versatile and adaptive, it’ll work well in many different soil types and exposures. 

To hasten this species’ spread, you can take stem cuttings in spring. Cut four- to six-inch stem pieces, place their bottoms in pots with moist soil, and cover them with humidity domes until they sprout roots and new growth. Then, plant the rooted cuttings wherever you need spreading ground covers. 

Goldenrod

	common name Goldenrod
	botanical name Solidago spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 2-8

Goldenrods are one of the most aggressive native species! They originate from all regions of North America, and many are endemic to specific small areas. When a plant is endemic, it grows in one spot on Earth! 

Planting endemic plants helps local pollinators, birds, and mammals survive. Many rely on these perennials and annuals for nectar, pollen, and habitat space. Though non-native species also have these resources, they’re often less attractive to local animals than native ones.

Not only are goldenrods ideal for wildlife, but they’re also perfect for banishing unruly weeds! They spread seeds from their bright yellow flowers that sprout into seedlings. They also grow new shoots from underground rhizomes. You may propagate new specimens with seeds, divisions, or stem cuttings. 

California Poppy

	common name California Poppy
	botanical name Eschscholzia californica
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 6-10

California poppies decorate the West Coast! They’re native herbaceous perennials that can rapidly and aggressively spread with seeds. Orange and yellow poppy-like blooms emerge near gray-green lacy foliage. Decorative, drought-tolerant, and easy to cultivate, California poppies are the perfect spreading plant to battle invasives. 

Though the species Eschscholzia californica is most resilient, cultivars and varieties offer unique blooms with some of the species’ spreading capabilities. Try ‘Mikado’ for deep-red and orange flowers or ‘Mission Bells’ for a mix of white, pink, orange, and red blossoms!

Pacific Blackberry

	common name Pacific Blackberry
	botanical name Rubus ursinus
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 10-20’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Pacific blackberry grows wild in the western U.S.! This native plant is much better behaved than the aggressive Himalayan blackberry, as it tends to grow out rather than up. Pacific blackberry trails along the ground, while Himalayan blackberry sprouts upward and arches over other species.

Because of the trailing tendencies, Pacific blackberry is ideal for covering bare soil. Its spreading canes root when nodes touch the ground, creating dense colonies. It also produces edible, sweet blackberries! This species is dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants. For berries, you’ll need to plant a male specimen next to a female.

Spring Beauty

	common name Spring Beauty
	botanical name Claytonia spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 2-12”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Spring beauties announce the growing season with fleshy leaves and candy-striped blooms. They sprout from underground corms that hold the soil in place, preventing erosion and runoff. Though they spread readily, they face invasion during the off-season. Keep aggressive weedy species like lesser buttercup and nipplewort far away so the native spring beauty plants can dominate the space.

There are many species of spring beauties in the genus Claytonia. Try Western spring beauty in the west, and common or broad spring beauties in the east. Choosing endemic species from your region is best, as they’ll fare well without much care or maintenance. 

Plains Coreopsis

	common name Plains Coreopsis
	botanical name Coreopsis tinctoria
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Coreopsis, or tickseeds, are annual and perennial plants that thrive in similar areas as wild bergamot. Plains, prairie, and grassland are perfect for the species. Plains coreopsis especially loves these areas, as it thrives where conditions are sandy, dry, and sunny. It’ll compete with weedy annuals and grasses.

Plains coreopsis grows lacey foliage with needle-like leaves and yellow-red blooms on tall stems. The plants can reach four feet tall but often stay between one and two feet. Before sowing seeds, clear the area of weeds to give the seedlings a fighting chance. After the plants grow flowers and seeds, they’ll resow each year.

Ostrich Fern

	common name Ostrich Fern
	botanical name Onoclea struthiopteris
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Ferns are essential native species in the battle against aggressive invasive plants. The ostrich fern is a great choice, as it has creeping roots that sprout new shoots away from the mother plant. Its young fronds are edible before they uncurl; they’re a delicious delicacy known as fiddlehead ferns. 

Ostrich fern prefers shady, cool conditions with consistent moisture. They’re drought tolerant once they establish themselves, faring well against foreign invaders. Plant large swaths of them to secure the site, or divide the plants in spring or fall and transplant them to other areas in need of native species.

Western Sword Fern

	common name Western Sword Fern
	botanical name Polystichum munitum
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Western sword fern is another fern that thrives in North America. It prefers the West Coast and its nearby forests, as it grows best in shady, fertile sites with consistent moisture. In its natural habitat, it’s tolerant of summer drought and sunlight, making it perfect for battling weedy species. 

In forests near my home in Oregon, the Western sword ferns dominate. They grow into large, mature specimens that prevent invasives. They’re also evergreen, so there’s less chance of weeds sprouting around them during winter. 

This sword fern is frost-hardy to USDA hardiness zone 4. In eastern areas of the U.S., a good alternative is the Christmas fern, Polystichum acrostichoides. 

Beach Strawberry

	common name Beach Strawberry
	botanical name Fragaria chiloensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-6”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Beach strawberry grows wild along the West Coast, and it’s the parent plant of many other strawberry hybrids that we know and love today. The garden strawberries you buy at the grocery store are from plants descending from beach strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis, and wild strawberry, Fragaria virginiana. 

Though this strawberry is the parent of delicious varieties, it doesn’t produce many edible fruits. They’re also tiny and not as sweet-tasting as those from cultivated varieties. Grow this plant to battle invasives—it’ll control erosion and spread with runners that root freely. 

Black-Eyed Susan

	common name Black-Eyed Susan
	botanical name Rudbeckia fulgida
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Perennial, full sun-loving native plants are indispensable in the fight against aggressive invasives. Black-eyed Susans thrive in the sun, and they’re heat and drought-tolerant. They grow among grasses and purple coneflowers in prairies and hillsides; they’re ideal for Midwest and East Coast gardens, though they thrive in the Pacific Northwest if they have good drainage. 

You can find black-eyed Susans as potted plants or seeds. Plant seeds in fall, or potted plants in early spring when the weather is cool, mild, and frost-free. Divide established clumps to propagate, or save and sow seeds in autumn. 

Mountain Mint

	common name Mountain Mint
	botanical name Pycnanthemum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Mountain mints are close relatives of mint plants in the family Lamiaceae. You can tell a plant is in this family by its stems—they’re typically square! You’ll also notice incredible minty aromas from mountain mint leaves, flowers, and stems. 

Like wild bergamot, mountain mints sprout flower heads with clusters of smaller flowers that attract bees, birds, and butterflies. Dig up your weedy peppermint and spearmint to plant mountain mint instead! The leaves are safe for cooking and brewing tea; they’re perfect substitutes. 

Yerba Buena

	common name Yerba Buena
	botanical name Clinopodium douglasii
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6”
	hardiness zones 5-12

Yerba buena grows low to the ground with free-rooting stems that form vast colonies. It’s also in the Lamiaceae family like mints and mountain mints; it’s an ideal substitute for weedy mints in the herb garden. You can use its leaves and flowers to make tea, desserts, or smoothies—they provide a soothing, herbal flavor that’s cool and refreshing. 

Yerba buena originates from parts of the western U.S. in moist, mild conditions. Established specimens tolerate drought, though they dislike excessive sunlight. Use this plant to battle weedy shade-loving ground dwellers. 

Jewelweed

	common name Jewelweed
	botanical name Impatiens capensis
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Jewelweed decorates shady areas throughout the Midwest and East Coast. It’s an Impatiens plant that shares the spreading capabilities of related plants in the same genus like Bizzy Lizzy. It reaches five feet tall, with fleshy stems and orange-lipped flowers with brown dots. After pollination and fertilization, the flowers evolve into seed pods that explode on contact!

Grow this semi-aggressive native plant to blanket bare soil during the growing season. It’s an herbaceous perennial that goes dormant during winter. Tall arching stems emerge in spring and fill the site until autumn. After the plants enter dormancy, mulch the area with fall leaves or compost to prevent weed seeds from sprouting during the cold months. 

Poison Oak

	common name Poison Oak
	botanical name Toxicodendron diversilobum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-50’
	hardiness zones 5-9

To battle invasives, you may have to pull out the big guns! By that, I mean you may need to grow poison oak or ivy in areas with little foot traffic. Though toxic to the touch, poison oak is a native species that grows well where other plants struggle to. It forms either a shrub or vine, with the shrub reaching 10 feet tall and climbing vines reaching up to 50 feet! 

Poison oak can cause skin rashes and dermatitis if you touch any part of the plant. To stay safe, use extreme caution when handling it and wear gloves and protective clothing. The best use case for this shrub or vine is in wild areas away from the home where invasive plants dominate. 

Poison Ivy

	common name Poison Ivy
	botanical name Toxicodendron radicans
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 6-150’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Like poison oak, poison ivy is dangerous to touch! Though toxic, it is a crucial species for local wildlife and arguably one of the most aggressive native plants. Birds eat the berries, bees like the nectar and pollen from flowers, and deer and rabbits eat the foliage. Amphibians and reptiles like to use the plant as a habitat space, as it gives them a pathway to crawl up trees and shrubs for sunlight access. 

Because of its toxicity, poison ivy isn’t suitable for growing near homes or pathways. It’s a plant for little-used spaces where invasives reign supreme. Remove the weeds and plant poison ivy—it’ll quickly take over and provide natural resources to wildlife. 

Trumpet Creeper

	common name Trumpet Creeper
	botanical name Campsis radicans
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30-40’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Trumpet creeper isn’t toxic like the previous species, though it spreads rapidly like the two! It grows as a deciduous vine, sprouting long shoots in spring and trumpet-like flowers in summer. The orange-red blossoms provide nectar for hummingbirds, while the leaves offer food for deer and rabbits. 

Tough, drought tolerant, and sun-loving, trumpet creeper can grow as a ground cover or a tall vine. It produces suckers that compete with low-growing vegetation, and seeds readily sprout when they fall to the ground. If you’re battling ivy, blackberry, or similar spreaders, consider trumpet creeper a formidable foe against the invaders. 

Staghorn Sumac

	common name Staghorn Sumac
	botanical name Rhus typhina
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-25’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Like trumpet creeper, staghorn sumac grows many suckers from its roots that form dense thickets. The denseness prevents weeds from sprouting, keeping the area secure from non-native annuals and perennials. It also sprouts from seeds; its dual propagation strategy is useful in keeping the plant alive despite harsh conditions. 

Control erosion, feed birds, and provide habitat space for local wildlife with staghorn sumac. You can limit its growth by mowing the suckers annually, or by pruning out unruly stems as you see fit. You’ll see this plant growing wild in states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Minnesota. It has a wide range, tolerating extreme drought, frost, and temperature swings.