Life’s too short to have gardener’s regret.
They’re also free from natural checks and balances like predators, disease, and other plants.
“Even with increases in laws restricting their sale, some nurseries still sell them.”
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It’s a good idea to do researchbefore planting new trees, bushes, or shrubs in your yard.
But some butterfly bushes can become big nuisances in the environment.
Butterfly bush is not a plant for butterfly caterpillars."
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And it also hosts bacterial leaf scorch, a disease problematic to some native trees and shrubs."
Or opt for coral honeysuckle (lonicera sempervirens), which is a favorite of hummingbirds.
Instead, look for native varieties like coral honeysuckle (lonicera sempervirens).
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Periwinkle (Vinca)
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These pretty (and pretty popular!)
“It doesnt offer any value to wildlife and will overtake plants that local wildlife need to survive.”
Instead, consider ground cover plants that Philliips suggests, such as wild strawberry or creeping phlox.
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But you could be wreaking havoc with the local environment.
Instead, opt fornative shrubsthat work for your area.
“Spiraea grows rapidly and will quickly outcompetenatives in meadowsand forest clearings.”
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There are native spiraea which you’re free to plant instead, like steeplebush and meadowsweet.
And studies have shown that adult monarchs with OE have a number of issues.
So skip this milkweed, and go for a more native variety instead.
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It also doesn’t support as much insect or bird life as other options.
If you’re looking for an alternative, try a serviceberry or shadbush tree.
They bloom around the same time and produce edible fruit.
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Ultimately, it’s going todraw more life into your garden.
Some states are even starting to ban selling these trees.
Plant blueberry bushes instead.
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There is an American bittersweet variety, but it gets outcompeted by this introduced variety.
If you’re looking for an alternative vine, try trumpet honeysuckle or American wisteria.
There are also native clematis species.
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They outcompete other shrubs and reduce biodiversity because they don’t have natural checks and balances in the area.
However, there are several native varieties of viburnum, so ask for those when you visit a nursery.
As an alternative, try switchgrass or Indiangrass, which have all the same aesthetic qualities of miscanthus sinensis.
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2022;91(4):780-793. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13678
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