00:00We all know the usual suspects. Bamboo, English ivy, mint. Those notorious garden bullies were warned about from the start.
00:07They spread fast, take over, and are tough to control. But what about the less obvious offenders?
00:14The plants that seem harmless, even beautiful, until it's too late?
00:18Well, we're digging into the plants gardeners regret planting. Ones that cause problems no one saw coming.
00:24Whether it's relentless self-seeding or an unsightly growth habit, these plants have definitely earned a spot on the never
00:31-again list.
00:33Hi, this is Amy from Gardening Know-How, and I've pulled together this list from our team of writers, along
00:38with stories from gardeners across social media.
00:41But before we get into their regrets, I'm going first.
00:45This right here is my nemesis, the chameleon plant.
00:49Yes, it's colorful and unique, and those variegated leaves are definitely eye-catching.
00:54But let me tell you, it's one of my biggest gardening regrets.
00:58Once it's in the ground, it doesn't stay put. It spreads fast, really fast, thanks to its underground rhizomes.
01:05I started with just a small patch, and within a couple of seasons, it was popping up everywhere, even in
01:12places I never planted it.
01:14I've tried digging it up, smothering it, even using Weed Killer.
01:18But the roots run deep, and no matter what I do, it keeps coming back.
01:23Removing it has become an ongoing battle, and I'm definitely not alone.
01:28Check out what these other gardeners have to say.
01:43Next on my personal list, anything in the cherry family, like the popular Weeping Cherry or Sand Cherry.
01:49No, they're not invasive like the chameleon plant, but I've actually removed all of them from my landscape over the
01:55past few years.
01:56Why? Because they turned into a summer-long headache.
02:00Every single year, Japanese beetles would show up and completely devour the leaves, leaving behind sad, skeletonized plants.
02:09No matter what I tried, the beetles just kept coming back.
02:12What should have been a beautiful focal point in the garden became a constant source of stress.
02:17So eventually, I gave up and pulled them all out.
02:20And you know what?
02:21After removing those plants, I barely see Japanese beetles in my yard anymore.
02:26That alone made it worth it.
02:28When I took this question to social media, one answer came up again and again.
02:33The Rose of Sharon.
02:34At first glance, it seems like the perfect low-maintenance shrub.
02:38Beautiful blooms, tough as nails, and it thrives just about anywhere.
02:41But after a few seasons, the regret starts to sink in.
02:46It self-seeds like crazy.
02:48Tiny seedlings start popping up all over the garden.
02:51And no matter how many you pull, more keep coming.
02:55It turns into a constant chore, just trying to keep them under control.
02:59Now, if you still love the look of Rose of Sharon, don't worry.
03:03There's hope.
03:03New seedless varieties like the Chiffon Series, Satin Series, and Purple Pillar, which I actually have in my landscape, offer
03:12the same beauty without the invasion.
03:14These cultivars are a great choice for gardeners who want all the flowers and none of the frustration.
03:21Another plant that seems harmless at first?
03:23The Sweet Autumn Clematis.
03:25It grows fast, it's fragrant, and it's absolutely covered in pretty white blooms.
03:30But it does not take long to discover its aggressive side.
03:33This vine doesn't just stay on the trellis where you planted it.
03:37It climbs, sprawls, and smothers anything in its path.
03:41And good luck trying to remove it.
03:43Pulling it out often seems to make things worse, encouraging even more shoots to pop up.
03:48The good news?
03:49There are plenty of other Clematis varieties that are much better behaved, and honestly, have even showier flowers.
03:56So it's no surprise that the Sweet Autumn Clematis ends up on a lot of gardeners' never-again lists.
04:13Bishop's Weed or Gout Weed is another one of those plants gardeners often regret planting, even if it seemed like
04:20a good ground cover solution at first.
04:22While its variegated leaves can brighten up shady spots, this plant quickly reveals its true nature as a relentless garden
04:30thug.
04:31It spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes, overrunning flowerbeds, popping up in lawns, and weaving its way through desirable plants.
04:40Once established, it's extremely difficult to remove.
04:43Digging often misses pieces of the root, and even a small fragment left behind can regrow and start the invasion
04:50all over again.
05:06Digging often finds a great plant gardener from the Trumpe Vine
05:07Another vine that often makes the regret list is the Trumpet Vine.
05:10Native to the southeastern United States, this vigorous climber is infamous for aggressively spreading far from its original planting spot.
05:18It grabs onto walls, fences, and trees with aggressive tendrils, often damaging or smothering
05:24nearby plants.
05:26Even if you cut it back, trumpet vine bounces back fast, sometimes even stronger than before,
05:32making it incredibly tough to control or get rid of.
05:35No wonder this one got so many votes.
05:38It's clear a lot of gardeners have their own battles with trumpet vine.
06:05Our team here at Gardening Know How also shared some of their top planting regrets, and one
06:10surprising entry was common milkweed.
06:13Content editor Kathleen Walters admits she regrets planting milkweed in her garden beds.
06:19She knows how important milkweed is as a host plant for monarch butterflies, but she wishes
06:24she had planted it somewhere else or contained in a pot.
06:28It has spread everywhere, even into her neighbor's lawn, and she's constantly working to keep
06:33it under control.
06:35Another surprising entry, coneflowers, and you may be surprised why.
06:40Content editor and fellow video producer here at Gardening Know How, Laura Walters, regrets
06:45planting coneflowers in her yard.
06:48Even though coneflowers are supposed to be deer-resistant, the deer in her neighborhood
06:53kept munching them down to little nubs every year.
06:56Laura loves coneflowers and always hopes for a summer filled with pink blooms, but the deer
07:01seem to have other plans.
07:03She tried growing coneflowers from seed for about three years before finally giving up.
07:08A few plants still sprout, but the blooms are few and far between, and when they do appear,
07:14the deer eat them within a day or two.
07:16Interestingly, Laura gave some of these sprouts to her sister, and they thrive in her deer-free
07:21yard, growing like crazy.
07:24Laura also mentioned another really popular perennial, the salvia, and for a very specific reason.
07:30She said it looks beautiful for about three years, but after that, it starts to look sad
07:36with a big hole forming in the middle.
07:38She's divided it several times, but those divisions do fine for only a few years, but
07:43the same problem shows up yet again.
07:45It's not the worst issue, but it's frustrating to see it lose its fullness year after year.
07:50So, if you're buying salvia plants, look for descriptions like strong, upright growth or
07:56resistant to splitting to avoid this problem and keep your plants looking their best.
08:02Our editor-in-chief, Melanie, shared two perennial plants she personally regrets.
08:07The first is bear's breeches.
08:09While the foliage might seem plain at first, it quickly grows huge and takes over, eventually
08:15looking wilted, shaggy, and even rotting in wet weather.
08:19She tried digging one out, but didn't realize how tough it would be.
08:24Digging just spreads the rhizomes, creating even more plants.
08:28Now, Melanie knows the best way to kill it is by smothering, and that's exactly what
08:32she plans to do when she's able to get around to it.
08:35Another plant she regrets planting is the so-called dwarf butterfly bush in the front yard.
08:41While it's not the invasive, self-seeding type, it grew much larger than expected and quickly
08:46took over the bed.
08:47Pruning it back has been a lot of work, and it just keeps growing bigger and bigger.
08:52Her plan isn't to remove it completely, but to move it to a better spot at the back
08:57of the garden.
08:58It's also important to mention that butterfly bush is considered invasive in many parts
09:03of the United States, so gardeners should be cautious when planting this shrub.
09:08Thanks for joining me as we uncovered some of the plants gardeners regret the most.
09:12The reasons these gardeners dislike them may not apply to you, but if you've had your
09:16own plant regrets or tips for managing these garden troublemakers, drop a comment below.
09:22We'd love to hear your stories.
09:23Until next time, happy gardening, and may your plants bring you joy, not headaches.
09:29Thanks.
09:30Thanks.
09:30Thanks.
09:30Thanks.
09:30You
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