Invasive plants wear out their welcome

Low maintenance, great beauty — these are attributes gardeners look for when choosing plants. But a pretty plant can grow too well, writes Janet B. Carson in HomeStyle.

Some attractive species will take over everything in the garden, where they join the ranks of invasive plants. On average, 85 percent of the invasive plants that are smothering Arkansas’ natural areas are not native.

Most were intentionally planted and then escaped.

Left unchecked, these fast-spreading invasives begin to choke out native vegetation, which can in turn hurt native bees, butterflies and animals. See Carson’s list of what not to plant in tomorrow’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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