10 Shrubs You Should Never Plant in Your Yard, According to Gardening Experts

Burning Bush

Known for its fall-inspired, fiery red foliage, the burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is eye-catching but invasive in various states, including New Hampshire, Maine, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania, says Eric Nieusma, co-owner of Maine Hill Farm. The seeds of this showy shrub are disbursed by birds and other wildlife, allowing it to spread rapidly. Once established, the aggressive spread can disrupt local ecosystems and force out other plants, especially herbaceous and native woody plant species.

Beach Rose

Also called shore rose, beach rose (Rosa rugosa) is a deciduous, woody perennial that grows sweet-smelling flowers all summer long. “Beach rose has been planted to stabilize shoreline locations," says Hammon Buck, president of Plants Unlimited. However, due to its invasive nature, it is starting to climb onto invasive plant lists in states like Maine and Massachusetts. While the flowering shrub is useful for erosion control due to its ability to spread by rhizomes and seeds, the plant can quickly outcompete and displace native plants and should be avoided.

Japanese Barberry

This showy shrub features bright red or orange berries, adding pops of color to yards all over. That said, Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) harbors ticks, and the thorns make it difficult to deal with and maintain in a landscape, says Cameron DePaola, master gardener, landscape designer, and owner of Riverside Landscaping Inc. Similar to the burning bush, Japanese barberry is also very invasive due to the berries being deposited by birds and animals. 

Butterfly Bush

Renowned for its beauty and ability to attract butterflies, butterfly bush (Buddleia) can spread quickly and outcompete and destroy native plants. The species is considered a noxious weed, a weed that has been designated by an agricultural or other governing authority as a plant that is potentially detrimental or destructive and difficult to control or eradicate.

Thankfully, there are plenty of native alternatives to butterfly bush for attracting, feeding, and hosting butterflies.

Nandina

Nandina (Nandina domestica), also known as heavenly bamboo or sacred bamboo, is an evergreen shrub in the barberry family. It is native to central and southern China and Japan, but was brought to North America in the early 19th century.

It is invasive in some parts of the United States, but the main concern is that nadina berries can be toxic to certain bird species, including cedar waxwings, Eastern bluebirds, northern mockingbirds, and American robins. Compounding the problem is that birds flock to nandina and gorge on its berries in the fall and winter when other foods are scant. It can also be toxic to other wild and domestic animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and sheep.

Gooseberry Bush

With edible berries, dark green foliage, and bell-shaped flowers that bloom in the spring, it’s easy to see why gooseberry bush (Ribes spp.) makes for a beautiful addition to one's yard. Unfortunately, the edible shrub is invasive and has the potential to carry a fungal disease called white pine rust, says Buck. This can be devastating to native white pine trees and may cause irreparable damage.

Buckthorn

The buckthorn shrub (Rhamnus spp.) was brought to the U.S. as an ornamental landscape addition. However, it is now considered a noxious weed because it takes over natural vegetation, forming an impenetrable barrier that can compromise the habitat of wildlife. Its thorny stature makes it unfavorable to work with, and it’s a difficult shrub to remove once established.

Bush Honeysuckle

Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) produces many shiny berries in mid-summer that are either red, orange, or pink. Its delicate four-pedaled flowers are sweet smelling and start out white and turn yellow or pink. Unfortunately, the striking shrub spreads by roots and seeds, overtaking native plants. Bush honeysuckle can cause soil erosion problems because the ground beneath it becomes bare, and its root system may host harmful chemicals dangerous to nearby plants.

Privet Hedges

Popular for creating a natural privacy barrier in yards, privet hedges (Ligustrum) can be a danger to local natives. Depending on the species, privet hedges can be aggressive invaders that form dense thickets that shade nearby native plants. “The Chinese privet is considered highly invasive in the U.S. and can be difficult to control,” says Nieusma. The determined plant can grow in many conditions, including sun or shade and wet or dry soil, displacing native species, disrupting local ecosystems, and even degrading riverbanks.

Autumn Olive

Although Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is easy on the eyes thanks to its bell-shaped, lightly-colored flowers, this deciduous shrub is an aggressive spreader. Birds and mammals distribute the berries widely, adding to its invasiveness. Autumn olive outcompetes and displaces native plants by shading them and changing the surrounding soil chemistry—a process called allelopathy. While the berries are edible and make for a good jam, it’s best to avoid planting this shrub to protect native plants.