Alternatives to Invasives
Barberry, bittersweet and burning bush are three popular plants that can be problematic (as in aggressive or invasive) in many areas. Here are some alternative plants that achieve the same effects.
Barberry, bittersweet and burning bush are three popular plants that can be problematic (as in aggressive or invasive) in many areas. Here are some alternative plants that achieve the same effects.
Invasive species: Burning bush, winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
Grown for: Vivid fall color
Alternatives:
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia): red-purple fall color
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia): golden fall color
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica): rich red fall color
Witherod (Viburnum nudum): red to purplish fall color
Invasive species: Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Grown for: Fall color, fruit that attracts birds, hedge material
Alternatives:
Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata): dwarf forms are similar to barberry; bright red winter fruits
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica; shown): rich red fall color
Baybery (Myrica pensylvanica): gray fruits attract birds
Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium): fruits and rusty fall color
American cranberry bush (Viburnum opulus var. americanum, syn. V. trilobum): yellow to reddish purple fall color, fruits for birds
Invasive species: Asiatic bittersweet, Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Grown for: Interesting fruit, flowers and fall color, vining habit
Alternatives:
American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens): vine with same fruit as Asiatic
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia): vine with great fall color
See our popular CD, 10 Years of Horticulture: 1997–2006
