Don't Mistake These Deceiving Invasive Weeds For Flowers

Have you ever walked into your garden and admired a stunning plant before thinking, "Wait, I don't remember planting that"? It happens, and oftentimes that new blooming stunner is actually a weed. Not all weeds are inherently bad, but you must take caution to identify what type of plant it is. At first, you may be tempted to leave it in your yard, but it may be an invasive weed that could cause major damage to your garden. It could also be detrimental to the environment with outcomes such as decreased plant diversity, poor water quality, and damaged animal habitats. 

That's why invasive weeds should always be removed, even if they are the prettiest plants in the bunch. They compete for water, sun, and nutrients with native plants, which causes problems not just for your garden but the ecosystem at large. If native plants die out, animals who use them for food and shelter could die as well. Keep in mind that a plant considered invasive in one region or even state does not mean it's considered invasive everywhere, as it depends on your area's regulations. Not sure if you've got a friendly wildflower or a dangerous weed? Check out our guide to help you identify and remove 17 invasive weeds that could wreak havoc on your garden and regional plant life.

Purple loosestrife may easily be mistaken for hyssop, liatris, or lupine from afar, but it's actually a wetland invasive weed. To tell whether or not you're dealing with purple loosestrife, wrap your fingers around the stem of the plant — if it is square-shaped, you likely have loosestrife. The flowers are beautiful, which is why the plant was brought over from Eurasia in the 1800s, but this weed is aggressive and threatens many North American wildlife habitats. Luckily, you can physically remove these weeds somewhat easily, then bag or burn them to prevent further spread.

Wild lettuce also goes by the name prickly lettuce, but this invasive species should not be consumed. The white oozy substance it contains can be toxic to wildlife and damage wheat crops. Each plant can distribute up to 100,000 seeds, so it's incredibly efficient at spreading over a large area. While identifying wild lettuce is easy before it blooms, in the late summer it produces a flower that looks like a calendula or daisy. To remove wild lettuce, pull it up from the root while wearing gloves, using a shovel if needed. 

Morning glory or bindweed has a deceptively pretty name for an invasive weed. Not to be confused with the benign Ipomoea, which also goes by the name morning glory, this weed can easily be confused for a petunia, but it wreaks havoc on wildlife. The extensive, sprawling root system makes it impossible to manage and takes resources away from both wild and agricultural plants and crops. You can either cover the garden the bindweed has taken over with fabric or mulch to deprive it of light and resources or manually remove each root of the plant. 

Originally from South America's Amazon, water hyacinths are water-growing plants that are listed as invasive and are especially prevalent throughout the north and southeast coast of North America because they thrive in freshwater environments. These plants are beautiful but shouldn't be used in your backyard pond, as they spread quickly to form thick mats over water which can deprive underwater life of sunlight. Perhaps even worse is that these plants are much-loved habitats for mosquitoes. If you have water hyacinth in your yard, try to remove it physically or use herbicides.

The best way to identify the mimosa or silk tree invasive weed is by its vibrant flowers, which have the texture of fringed thread or ostrich feathers. This plant attracts many pollinators and luckily isn't considered invasive in all parts of North America. However, it is particularly prevalent in southeastern states such as Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. If found in the states that consider it invasive, it should be removed by taking it up from the root, though you may also need to use a chemical herbicide to ensure it doesn't grow back. 

Giant hogweed might not seem dangerous at first, especially because its umbrella flowers look like white yarrow plant or Queen Anne's lace. However, it's considered invasive partially because it is non-native but largely because its sap is highly toxic to people, causing painful burns and scarring. This trait has earned it a spot on the federal noxious weed list. It's easy to tell apart because it can grow up to 14 feet tall. During removal, to avoid possible contact, use a shovel or an herbicide instead of removing by hand, even if wearing gloves.

You may have seen the stunning periwinkle flower in garden beds around Europe and Africa and asked yourself, "why don't we plant these in the United States?" The reason is because they are highly invasive. Periwinkle produces violet flowers along with dense stems and leaves that crowd out other plants as well as deprive them of necessary resources. Luckily, removal can be as simple as thorough weeding as long as the infestation is small enough. Regrowth can occur even from small broken pieces of stem, so be sure to clear the area after weeding. 

From afar, fox-and-cubs flowers, also known as orange hawkweed, may look like marigolds. Unlike marigolds, this invasive plant has rectangular, frayed petals. Alas, these cutely-named, orange-hued flowers are bad for North America. The plant is able to form dense mats, reproduce at a breakneck pace through seed spread and roots, and win out in contests for light, water, and space against native plants. Remove the plant through careful digging and weeding, ensuring the root system comes up entirely. All flowerheads should be bagged securely and thrown out.