48 More Perennials You'll Regret Planting

Perennials are a fantastic, low-maintenance investment for flower gardeners. Plant them once and they’ll return year after year. However, some perennials are a little too good at their job and can quickly take over your flowerbed and crawl into your lawn. What you thought was a low-maintenance plant can quickly become your worst nightmare.

Previously, I published a post on the 30 perennials you’ll regret planting in Zone 2 and Zone 3. This post is a list I’ve compiled from readers in warmer climates of perennials, vines, and a few self-seeding annuals that can quickly get out of control. Please note that I have not planted most of these and am using the experiences and suggestions of others to inform this post.

What is an invasive perennial in one area, might not even be possible to grow in another. When in doubt, google your province or state plus the term “list of invasive plants.” And remember: one gardener’s invasive perennial is another gardener’s favourite flower. If you love it, plant it. Don’t let some gardening-blogger-on-the-internet stop you!

If you’re sweating at the thought of all these perennials you have to avoid, here’s a video on 20 of the ones you’ll love instead:

Vines of Misery

Sure, these vines may look beautiful, but they can strip paint when removed, clog your gutters, take over trees, and even survive salted ground and dog pee.

1. Bittersweet Nightshade Vine

2. Clematis

Seems to be a trend with purple flowering plants…

3. Hops

I can personally attest to the ferociousness of this vine. During a good growing year it would climb the entire height of our antenna! I can only imagine what it would do in an area warmer than Zone 3.

4. Ivy and English Ivy

Stories of terror include peeling paint off a house and surviving both salt and dog pee.

5. Passionflower Vine

This vine is super invasive in Texas–a place where most of the flowers on my previous list are impossible to grow. Think about that for a moment.

6. Puncture Vine

Don’t let those sweet yellow flowers fool you.

7. Sweet Potato Vine

If you live in a very warm area like Zone 8 or 9, beware! This vining cousin of the edible Sweet Potato plant grows rapidly in high heat.

8. Sweet Autumn Clematis

Yes, the multitude of white blooms are gorgeous, but require a lot of maintenance to keep under control.

9. Vinca Minor/LESSER Periwinkle

Thank your lucky stars if you live in a colder area of North America, because it won’t be invasive for you.

10. Vinca Major/BIGLEAF Periwinkle

Same as above, only with larger blooms and foliage.

11. Wisteria

Sure, they look gorgeous, but this vine is not for the low maintenance gardener. More than one reader has tales of an unchecked Wisteria vine destroying pergolas and climbing into neighbouring trees within 5 years.

So what vines are good to plant? One reader suggests Star Jasmine, Pink Jasmine, Banks Rose and Tangerine Beauty. If you want even more, check out my list of my 53 favourite perennials you need to plant now.

Herbs Gone Wild

12. Oregano

13. Chives

I personally love chives, so I’m okay with them growing a lot. It’s a joy to be able to share some with friends. If you want to stop your chive plant from growing, remove all the purple flowers before they go to seed.

14. Creeping Thyme

Any plant that has the word “creeping” in its name is bound to be a problem.

15. Feverfew

Feverfew looks like a Daisy and it’s medicinal use is primarily for headaches and migraines. Not to be confused with the Feverfew used for cut flowers.

16. Mint

Chocolate Mint, Mojito Mint, Spearmint, you name it. If it has the word mint in it, plant it in a pot unless you want it to take over your lawn.

17. St. John’s Wort

Fun fact: the name of the plant comes from it’s usual blooming time of around June 24th, the feast of St. John. It’s also used for many medicinal purposes. Not so fun fact: it will grow everywhere in short order.

Self-Seeding Annual Flowers

18. Four-O-Clocks/Mirabilis

Mirabilis means wonderful in Latin. These flowers are wonderful to look at, but horrible for self-seeding themselves everywhere.

19. Gazania

20. Wishbone Flower

Related: THE 40 BEST CUT FLOWERS TO FEED YOUR FLORAL ARRANGING HABIT ALL SUMMER LONG

If it has Weed in the name…

You really should know better, right? Here are a couple offenders:

21. Bindweed/Morning Glory

22. Bugleweed/Ajuga

I grew up all my life referring to this plant as “Pilgerweed” because my Dad got this plant from a friend in Pilger and it invaded a good portion of our lawn on the farm. No small feat when your lawn takes 4 hours to mow on a riding mower.

To be fair, I actually kind of like this one. The purple flowers really cheer up my weedy lawn.

23. Japanese Knotweed

Beware the Birdseed

24. Birdseed

If your bird feeder is over your lawn, either invest in good quality seed that doesn’t contain alfalfa as a filler, or put your bird feeder over a location with cement on the ground. If you don’t, you could end up with some unexpected surprises.

Perennial Flowers You’ll Regret Planting

25. Bouncing Betty/Soapwort

Bouncing Betty gets its cute name from an early pioneer who left cuttings of Soapwort as she travelled across America. Soapwort was used as a natural laundry soap, so she was doing all the future families who would arrive in her location a huge favour. Now? Maybe not so much.

26. Chameleon Plant

The Chameleon Plant can be green with white flowers as shown, or more commonly, with red rimmed and green centred leaves. They’re very pretty, but can quickly take over a yard.

27. Columbine

Columbine isn’t a problem where I live, but it is a self seeder and can really go to town in warmer climates.

28. Crocosmia

I laughed out loud when I researched this plant and the first variety I stumbled upon was called Lucifer. Make of that what you will.

29. Crown Vetch

Helpful for stopping erosion, but not so helpful in your flower bed.

30. Gooseneck

Gooseneck is part of the Loosestrife family, and like it’s purple cousin, it has a dangerous spreading habit.

31. Bishop’s hood/Jack in the pulpit

A very intriguing shade plant.

32. Lamb’s Ears

Lamb’s Ears are lovely in a children’s garden or a sensory garden, but can take over said garden in warmer growing zones.

33. Monkshood

A popular old-fashioned perennial. This one is also highly poisonous, so do not plant it if you have any pets or kids.

34. Primrose

There are many varieties of Primrose, and not all are invasive. The hardy Yellow Cowslip variety is a prolific self-seeder. One reader laments that “the more you pull them up, the faster they spread.”

35. Obedient Plant

Obedient Plants may behave in your flower arrangement, but they certainly don’t behave in the garden. They’re a flowering member of the Mint family, so no surprises there. Obedient Plants also use the alias Dragonhead flowers, as they resemble Snapdragons.

36. Jacob’s Ladder/Polemonium

Another beautiful perennial that self-seeds like there’s no tomorrow.

37. Black Eyed Susan/Rudbeckia

Some varieties are more well behaved than others. Despite the spreading habit, they provide a welcome hit of colour for a long stretch in the summer.

38. Scotch Broom

39. Snow on the Mountain

This plant is extremely poisonous. It retains its poison even after it dies. Do not plant if you have small children or pets.

40. Spiderwort

Sometimes called Widow’s Tears… maybe because you’ll cry if you plant them?

41. Violets

Violets sometimes also go by the name Jenny Jump Ups or Johnny Jump Ups. Whatever you call them, they can be a little surprise in your lawn that’s hard to get rid of.

Shrubs

42. Chamisa/RUBBER RabbitBRush

43. Rose of Sharon

Rose of Sharon is not actually a rose, but a member of the Mallow family. It’s a prolific self seeder, but is prized in the South Eastern United States because it can tolerate the intense heat.

44. Yucca

Grasses

45. Ribbon Grass

Ribbon Grass is so beautiful, but over time will work it’s way into your other grass and is hard to get rid of.

46. RUNNING Bamboo

Bamboo is excellent in it’s natural habitat. In your home garden? Not so much.

47. Horsetail Reed

Similar to bamboo and just as much if not more work to keep it where you want it.

Only in Texas

48. Prickly Pear Cactus

An edible cactus with a spreading habit. In colder climates this cactus does not spread. In really cold places, like where I live, they make adorable house plants.

Phewf, that was a long list! If you don’t see your most hated perennial on this list, check back to my original list of 30. Still not there? Head down to the comments and tell me about it!

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Comments

Sandee

I agree with not planting yucca! I had some in a flower bed on the corner of my drive. They were out of control and I decided to move them to a place where they could go crazy and not hurt a thing. We had to dig them out with a tractor. Thinking they were gone, added more soil and planted flowers. Within 2 weeks I had at least a dozen baby Wicca growing there. This started the viscous cycle, dig them up, they come back. It's been 5 years of this and they still keep coming up. Roundup doesn't kill them either.

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- Kristen Raney
  
  Oh no!! That's sounds so terrible! And you don't want to rip out your newly planted flowers either.
  
  Reply
- Roxanne
  
  It happened exactly the same in my garden The baby ones keep coming back. They are like weeds.
  
  Reply
- judy B
  
  I had a similar problem. I found they have a Tap Root and to get all of mine out, we dug 3 to 4 feet down and still did not reach the end. But we cut it at that point and poured a bit of Triox vegetation killer on what was down at bottom of hole. Buried it and planted and never saw hide nor hair of it again. But It was a chore and a half.
  
  Reply
Joanne

Certainly will agree with some of these, such as horsetail! Evil weed! I stopped putting bird seed in the feeder because the seeds started growing on my cement patio! However, i don't mind columbines that are spreading to other locations, Crocosomia or Montbretia because I love the flowers, and Nigella or Love-in-a-Mist which are in every pot & garden. I must have a different Rose of Sharon because it hasn't spread anywhere. It's a large tree now & I can't wait for all the blooms to open! Love Black-eyed Susan & Passionflower also. Have an entire Passionflower Pinterest board.

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- Kristen Raney
  
  With the Rose of Sharon, it might also be your location. Where I'm from, we can't even grow a lot of these options. I also find crocosomia aren't a problem here either.
  
  Reply
  - Joanne
    
    You might also add bluebells, forget-me-nots & lamium to the list. I also have some other rapidly spreading ground-covers in one garden which have pretty flowers that I do not remember the names of. Wish I could remember the one I planted a few years ago that had the worst smell! The more you pulled it out the faster it spread! Finally got rid of it!
    
    Reply
Lauren

You know what is a horrible perennial? Lily of the valley! Not only is it poisonous to pets and children, but it will take over and you cannot kill it, but it will kill everything else!

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- Kristen Raney
  
  I agree. They are everywhere in my yard!
  
  Reply
  - Gloria Lauterbach
    
    I agree! They are invading my holly bushes. Don't know how to stop them. Another one is grape hyacinths. They are pretty but they plant themselves everywhere - their tiny bulbs are all over. Dug a bunch out and offered them to neighbors. Good ground cover but invasive. I have spider wort also - spreads like crazy. Don't know how to control it either. HELP!
    
    Reply
Patty Jones

We live in NE Illinois. I'm STILL fighting those beautiful Morning Glories after 10 years. Also, we don't have issues with Rose of Sharon. But, did I miss Lily of the Valley on this list? Oh the mistakes this novice gardener has made. :(

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- Kristen Raney
  
  Lily of the Valley is on my original post of 28 perennials you'll regret planting. I guess when I make a follow up post next year, I'll just have to merge the two.
  
  Reply
Barb M.

One more to add to the list--Bishop's Weed (or Gout Weed or called Snow on the Mountain sometimes, but not the one you show). It's a variegated green and white foliage ground cover with insignificant white flowers once a year. Do not buy this, allow a "friend" to gift you with some, or let any small stand of it stay! It has haunted me at three different homes and survives and spreads if you pull it and pile it anywhere too. Pull it and burn it!! We are far north also in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and not even our winters slow it down. Great list! A few like columbines and Gloriosa daisies I do enjoy popping up around the garden and they're easy to spot and pull. Annual poppies can reseed like that too. Perennial Oriental poppies--the usually huge orange flowers can be dug out over and over for years on end! I only wish some of our favorite flowers were so hardy as the ones on this list! This past winter seems to have been a tough one on plants and I lost a lot of roses, my lavender and even all my Columbine seedlings out back.

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- Kristen Raney
  
  I agree! There's so many beautiful well behaved plants. . .if only winter wouldn't kill them! My stargazer lily bit the dust this year. Bishop's Weed is the absolute worst! When I made my original post, it was the most hated perennial of all.
  
  Reply
Cindie Winquist

Great article. Definitely agree with all of these. I would add (from my experience in Wisconsin), fern leaf Tansy, Centaurea Montana (I love the blue, so deal with its propensity to self-seed), and Hemerocallis fulva (orange daylily, or "ditch-lily"). My main nemesis is Creeping bellflower, Campanula rapunculoides. Drives me CrAzY! I personally enjoy columbine (it's easy enough to control) and have several different varieties. I also have a soft spot for clematis, and am in the process of collecting them. I've not had any problems with any of my clematis getting out of hand; however, I do not plant sweet autumn, due to its invasive habit and need for substantial support.

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- Kristen Raney
  
  I also despise creeping bellflower. I feel as if I will never get rid of it. When I made my original article about most-hated perennials, it came in second.
  
  Reply
  - Jim
    
    I had a large perennial garden at my house of 30 years (zone 6) but, sadly, I didn't transplant any favourites when I moved (zone 5) this summer. Bindweed, creeping bellflower, lilly of the valley were everywhere as well as several others kinds mentioned in this list. The new place has thistle to deal with. :-)
    
    Reply
Lizbeth Carlson

We moved into a house in December with a back yard full of gravel that I was looking forward to turning into flower/succulent beds. A couple of months later I discovered stuff growing up my walls and across the gravel! It turns out it's cats' claw. This stuff is almost impossible to kill and spreads with underground tubers. I have started to drill holes in the tubers and injecting Ground Clear into them. From what I've read, it may take several years to get rid of it - that is, if I'm lucky enough to get rid of it. Extremely invasive! I live in the Phoenix, AZ area and they love the heat. I hate using this poison, but nothing else seems to work. :( Got any suggestions?

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- Kristen Raney
  
  I've never heard of it before, but it sounds terrible! Probably the only other thing you could do is to put weed fabric over it and at least 4 inches of mulch. However, my invasive perennials still manage to work their way through any weak spots, so I don't know if you want to use that method. It's non-chemical, but it's not perfect.
  
  Reply
  - Nicole
    
    How about wintercreeper? The previous home owners to our home planted it everywhere and now half of my front lawn is covered in a 4 inch layer of wood chips in an attempt to smother it where I couldn’t pull it by hand. Ugh I hate the stuff! They also left behind ditch lilies, lily of the valley, ribbon grass, and that chameleon weed. Plus horrible burning bushes and a Norway maple. All gone now and replaced with beautiful natives.
    
    Reply
Anna

Thanks! I want to get rid of a huge, wasteful lawn on my property, and now I know exactly what to plant that can outgrow it. Very useful article.

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- Kristen Raney
  
  Awesome! I'm glad you found it helpful. I think a lawn of mint would be kind of cool, plus the smell every time you walked on it would be nice.
  
  Reply
  - dian Iron Feather
    
    Imagine what that would smell like each time you mow. How refreshing in the heat of Arkansas. Plus, it detracts mice and spiders.
    
    Reply
Chasty

What do you know about Asclepsia incarnata? Are they invasive as well? I live in zone 5. I planted one in the end of last fall and I’m hoping it doesn’t cause me problems.

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- Kristen Raney
  
  From what I can gather, it might get out of hand if your spot is on the swampy side, but if the soil is drier it shouldn't get out of control. If you're really concerned, try collecting the seed pods in the fall to prevent it from going to seed. It will still spread from the rhizomes. If anyone is reading this and is in zone 5, would you mind commenting on your experience? I'm from zone 3 and have no experience with this plant, so I'm going off of what I can research.
  
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Kathy Swafford

I consider Japanese blood grass and pain in the back, mine all turned solid green and grew to 2 feet tall, took me 2 seasons to get it all out of there. those roots were everywhere. I am in west central Illinois. zone 5. It is a struggle to get the Rose of Sharon to grow at all here, very slow growing. My Siberian Iris were purple for 3 years then next year they were all yellow, what's with that? These postings have been very helpful. If any of the plants you comment on are pet or human toxic it would be nice to know. I try to avoid those at all costs before I even think about planting them.

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- Kristen Raney
  
  That's a very good point! I'll have to write something about plants that are toxic to pets and kids in the future.
  
  Reply
Joan

How does everyone feel about purslane? I know it’s edible and loaded with nutrients but it totally took over my rose garden and grew in every little crack it could find!!

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- Kristen Raney
  
  I know lots of people like to eat it, but I think its a terrible weed!
  
  Reply
Linda Peach

Add Liriope to that list, at least here in California zone 9 or 10 (or Sunset 17). Spreads all over by underground stolons and seed. Also verbena rigida. It is beautiful in bloom, drought tolerant and will grow in gravel, but it will take over the garden. Spreads by underground stems and seed. On the other hand, lamium, spiderwort and Japanese Anemone are perfectly well-behaved here with little summer water.

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Paige

Totally agree. I think Cana Lilies can be added. I have lived on a cleared half acre almost 10yrs now, literally from the grass up. Looking for flowering perennials, not have much money, I would look to my friends & family for ones I could get from their yards. I had someone give me buckets of both Cana’s & Mexican Petunias so I couldn’t wait to get them in the ground. Fast forward to now, 10yrs later, I have spent the last 4wks getting rid of them. It took “ALL” I had “AND” 3-wks& 5 days longer than I could of “EVER” imagined. Not to mention what they’ve done to the lawn, now a huge mud pit I I’m needing to buy soil to fill& level back out.. “I despise them.” I really wasn’t sure I’d ever get them out. They are both horrifically invasive.

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Rocio

I have a Turkish cape bush and is a nightmare I’m trying to get ride of it

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carolyn jennings

Sweet Annie has millions of seeds that come up everywhere. Smells great but hard to control even in zone 6.

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Krystal

Zone 9 here, clematis grows wildly on my property, it just won't die. It was apparently here long before me and will be here long after me as well! HAHA the biggest issue I have aside from common weeds like dandelion are these horrible horrible vines with thorns all over them. They seem to grow everywhere you don't want them, they find purchase inside any ornamental shrub I've got, plus they're climbers so left unchecked they will cling to my house and rip the siding down when pulled off. I've dug up the tubers, used roundup, bleach, even fire, and no matter what I do they keep coming back. I hate them! They choke the life out of anything they come near, which is everything. This year was my first year to plant a perennial bed and I spent a solid four weeks in late February/ early March JUST digging out these horrible thorny vines!! Someone PLEASE tell me how to rid my yard and flower beds of these invasive, thorny little death machines!!

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Diane Nelson

I planted some type of wild geranium (cranesbill, variegated leaves) about 10 years ago, and it spread so aggressively that I'm still pulling it out! I have several other types of cranesbill that are lovely and spread only a little. Wish I could remember the name of the evil one! I also planted several Rose of Sharon years ago, and I have seedlings coming up everywhere. As long as I pull them when they're small I can get them, but they have a long taproot. Ditto for Black Eyed Susans. Someone gave me a bunch and they took over. I passed many to several neighbors, but have resorted to pulling them out to throw away, and I will always have some. I am in Eastern Pennsylvania, zone 6 I believe, and we get plenty of rain so everything grows well here!

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Katheryn Clark

How do I get rid of Spiderwort? I live in Georgia and this stuff is taking over my yard, and I HATE IT!!!! I believe that it has roots to China because I’ve tried digging it up and it seems to grow back twice as bad. I even googled it and tried salt like it said and that didn’t work. I’m think I’m going to lose my mind over this stuff.... lil

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Jan

penstemon is another invasive for zone 4

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MELANIE E. MULLIKIN

Add Scilla, I have never seen anything other than spiderwort take over that badly. I wish I had know in advance about sweet autumn clematis. It's choking my rose bush.

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Maria Bonchack

I have a nightmare of a vine if you live anywhere near zone 6. Has anyone experienced a trumpet vine? Great for the bees and hummingbirds, but for gardeners,it’s a BIG Nono. They are so invasive , I pulled about 50-6 inch shoots all over my yard, and that was just overnight, They will destroy wood fences and God help you if it grows anywhere near wooden lattice. It weaves in and out, and literally snaps the wood. It really did a number on my wooden fence. If you want this in your yard, I would suggest planting it in a pot that can not be penetrated by the legs of this vine. It would have to be made of cement or metal and then plant the pot in the ground. Look it up if you don’t know what it looks like....also BEWARE!

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Betty

Native ageratum!! Here our soil can hardly be called soil, bu this stuff spreads unbelievably both by seeds and runners. I wish some of the others on your list would grow here.

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Gina

You are kidding about all the plants you mentioned growing in Texas, right? I live in southeast Texas and have planted a number of those you mentioned with no problem. About fifteen years ago, we moved to a subdivision on a man made lake where the soil is terrible and the water is worse, and I've had very little success getting ANYTHING to grow! This spring, I'll take your list of the terrible fifty and RUN to the nearest nursery! Thanks!

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- Kristen Raney
  
  That's great! These were suggestions from readers from all over the place, so I'm really glad that these will work for you.
  
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Donna cromb

I loved your article and the comments. You could really add day-lilies to your list for zone 7b. I moved into a house with a nice garden area and the plants expanded into the crepe myrtles, roses, and hibiscus before long. Now I’m pulling them out and offered them free but had to trash them because no one wanted them. I’d like to add hybrid Bermuda too, it gets into the garden by shoots and seeds. My Rose a Sharon does grow lots of babies and I planted them for a hedge before I read your article and will now pull them up so I don’t fight their babies in the grass. Thanks so much.

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Jessica

These are supposed to be perennials you’ll regret planting!?!? There is so much misinformation in this article I don’t even know where to begin. I’ll just say that many many of these perennials are absolutely fantastic. Mulch your plants and most won’t take over. Many of these aren’t invasive at ALL. Please don’t doll out advice when you don’t actually know what you’re talking about! This isn’t the first piece of info on your blog that I’ve shaken my head at. Misinformation.

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Candace

Baby Tears!!! It snuck into the pot of another plant I got from a friend. Now it’s all over any shaded areas in the yard. Lovely if you really want it, but beware it’s vigorous efforts to establish itself anywhere that even a small piece lands.

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Thuy Hang Tran

Hi Mrs Raney, Your article is very interesting for the beginner gardener like I am. I have another concern about the weather in the laurentian forest in Quebec province. It’s cold enough for our flower or vegetable garden. In the morning, it’s average 15 degree Celsius and at night it’s be -10 degree Celsi the ground is frozen! A last subject which you can enlighten my ignorance is how to stop my beautiful petasistes japonicus to spread? I like the artistic form of theirs leaves. It spread by rhizomes but I will be sad if I have to get rid of the plant. I hope you will write some articles about those items. Best regards,

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Teresa

So glad I found your information on what not to plant! Like so many wide eyed new or somewhat experienced gardeners, we often learn afterwards. Your dead on LAMBS EAR I’m still trying to get rid of, finally got rid of some mint,smell’s amazing but very invasive stuff! Also I’ve did pretty good with the Clematis here in the South but I must say it’s pretty hardy don’t let the pretty purple flowers fool you. And it has comeback for the past 6 years or so. But it is gorgeous around my mailbox! Thanks for sharing this great information from Bama🪴

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Teresa

Oh I can’t believe I missed this one the Bradford Pear Tree, why they’re so popular here I will NEVER KNOW! We’ve had them to split terribly, fall over during high winds and let me tell they can do serious damage! I was very happy when we had them removed and that’s pricey too,but it was worth every penny! 🌹🌺🌼

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Catherine Carcuro

I am hoping you can help me. I planted one spiderwort plant several years ago and now it has become very invasive. I don’t know how to get rid of it. Also lily of the valley is becoming invasive as well. Thank you for your help!

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Bonnie

Hi Kristin, happy that you are obsessed in growing perennials, me also, I have a lot of gardens. I also grow tomatoes, don’t like eating them fresh, I can them

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48 More Perennials You’ll Regret Planting