It seemed harmless enough. A pretty vine from the garden center, adding a splash of color with its bright berries to brighten the backyard. But what the homeowner didn’t know was that this plant, though beautiful, was an invasive species. Within a few short years, the vine spread into the yard, strangling their trees, then made their way into nearby woods and fields, outcompeting native plants, damaging habitats, and altering the landscape for generations to come.

This isn’t a rare story. Across New York, invasive species often begin in home gardens—then spread into natural areas, forests, wetlands, and waterways, where their impact can last for generations.

The good news? The solution can start right where the problem begins.

Get Involved!

Led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, with support from SLELO PRISM, the project includes five demonstration garden sites and a series of free webinars and public planting events designed to engage the community.

Webinars (register to receive the Zoom link)
  • April 30 | 6:30–8 p.m. – Cultivating Biodiversity & Habitat
  • May 28 | 6:30–8 p.m. – Invasive Species 101: Empowering Gardeners
Public Planting Events (10 a.m. start; ~3–4 hours)
  • May 11 – Zoo New York, Watertown
  • May 12 – Jefferson Community College, Watertown
  • May 13 – Frederic Remington Art Museum, Ogdensburg
  • May 15 – Ives Park, Potsdam
  • May 19 – Downtown Canton

No experience is needed! Bring your interest (and gloves if you have them!).

Learn More & Register

What is Climate-Smart Gardening?

Climate-smart gardening is a strategic, eco-friendly approach that:

  • Prioritizes native plants that naturally support local wildlife
  • Replaces invasive ornamental plants with sustainable alternatives
  • Builds landscapes that are resilient to climate change
  • Prevents the accidental spread of invasive seeds, roots, and pests.

Every choice you make in your yard or garden has a ripple effect. Choosing native plants helps restore natural balance, while removing invasive species protects habitats from further harm.

Invasive Plants to Watch for and Native Alternatives

Even the most well-meaning gardeners can unknowingly introduce invasive species to their landscapes. Some of the most persistent threats in the SLELO region are plants that were once sold (and in some cases, still are) as decorative ornamentals. Behind their beauty, however, lies the potential for serious ecological damage. Luckily, these invasive species have several native alternatives that look just as beautiful and support ecological growth! The New York Flora Atlas is a great resource to learn what plants are native to New York and specific ecoregions. 

Invasive barberry (Berberis thunbergii), for example, is a popular landscaping shrub, but it forms dense, thorny thickets that crowd out native understory plants and create ideal habitat for ticks, mice, and chipmunks. A better alternative? Try winterberry (llex verticillata) a native shrub that’s just as striking and far more ecologically supportive.

Invasive bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) might look charming with its twisting vines and bright berries, but it aggressively climbs and strangles trees, shrubs, and fences.  Virgin’s bower (Clematis virginiana) or Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) are native alternatives.

Wetland areas are especially vulnerable to species like yellow iris (Iris Pseudacorus) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which form dense monotypic stands and expand quickly via rhizomes. It can easily replace and crowd out important riparian plants , causing a loss of vital habitat. Additionally, the root systems of yellow-flag iris can narrow waterways and clog irrigation systems. 

Instead, grow native blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), Blue vervain (Verbena hastata), and cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) that provide both beauty and biodiversity!

Butterfly bushes (Buddleja davidii) may be beautiful but they can escape cultivation and invade natural areas, crowding out native plants. There are no native caterpillars that eat butterfly bush leaves.

Instead of butterfly bush, plant sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), and New England blazing star (Liatris cylindracea). These plants are native to New York State and will support pollinators and benefit natural ecosystems.

Don’t overlook multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), a thorny shrub that quickly forms impenetrable walls and displaces native wildflowers. A great alternative is Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), which offers habitat and food for pollinators without the risk of invasion.

 

By learning to recognize these species and choosing native alternatives, you can protect your landscape and be part of a broader effort to stop the spread of invasive plants in New York.

Plant by plant, we can protect New York’s stunning natural heritage. Every smart swap, every invasive species removed, and every native flower planted builds a stronger, healthier future. The first step? Taking the Pledge to Protect! 

Whether you’re planting your first native garden or transforming an existing space, our Gardener Protector Toolbox is packed with free resources to help you garden smarter.

Visit the Virtual Toolbox
View Printable Toolkit

Tools to Help You Get Started!

Wild Ones
Find a chapter near you and get involved with a national environmentally-conscious gardening group. 

iNaturalist
A science-based platform where you can share observations of plants and animals with a community of naturalists.

New York Flora Atlas
Source information for the distribution of plants within New York, as well as information on plant habitats, associated ecological communities, and taxonomy. 

Gardening with Climate-Smart Native Plants in the Northeast
Native Plant Benefits and Northeastern Hardiness Plant List.

Native Plants for Your Landscape (NYS DEC)
Get easy-to-use lists of trees, shrubs, and flowers that are beautiful, hardy, and non-invasive.

PlantWise Brochure
Know before you grow, New York gardeners’ tipsheet showcasing native alternatives to common invasive garden plants.

Native Plant Shopping Guide
Find native plants sold by several Central New York native plant nurseries

In Case You Missed It: Emerging Invasives

Spring is here—and so are invasive species. This Protector’s Featured Spotlight highlights common backyard and dockside invaders that emerge in the spring, along with general control methods. It also includes a guide to native look-alikes for some of the most common invasive plants.

Learn More

May 2026: Protector's Quiz

Think you can spot the difference between invasive plants and their native alternatives? Put your knowledge to the test! This quick quiz will challenge what you know about climate-smart gardening, from identifying harmful invasive species to choosing eco-friendly plants that support local wildlife. Take the quiz below and see how your garden stacks up!

What is the main goal of climate-smart gardening?
Which invasive plant is known for forming dense, thorny thickets and creating ideal habitats for ticks?
Which invasive plant is especially harmful in wetland areas due to rapid spreading and crowding out native plants?
What is a recommended native alternative to invasive bittersweet?
Instead of planting butterfly bush, which of the following native plants is recommended to support pollinators?

Virtual Toolboxes

Visit the Protector’s Virtual Toolboxes below to access resources themed for each category, and to learn more about how to protect your favorite outdoor spaces from invasive species. 

Lands & Trails

Lands & Trails

Protect your private or publicly accessible lands and favorite hiking trails
Open Toolbox

Forests

Forests

Protect your private or publicly accessible forested areas
Open Toolbox

Waters

Waters

Protect your favorite paddle-ways, boating and fishing destinations
Open Toolbox

Gardens

Gardens

Protect your backyard or community gardens
Open Toolbox

Communities

Communities

Protect your favorite parks or urban green spaces, and street trees
Open Toolbox

Take the Pledge to Protect

Did you enjoy this blog post? Take our Pledge to Protect and get monthly emails showcasing actions you can take to protect your favorite hiking trails, paddleways, forests, garden, and community from the impacts of invasive species! 

Here’s How It Works:
 
  1. Fill out the pledge form below and select the outdoor areas you spend the most time in.
  2. Check your inbox for your confirmation email.
  3. Explore the resources in the virtual toolkits or download the PDFs.
  4. Earn a virtual badge for each pledge you take.
  5. Every month, you’ll receive a special Pledge-to-Protect email about a prevention/management activity to help you fulfill your pledge OR a highlight of an invasive species to keep an eye out for.
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Chose the pledge category that you spend the most time in or that you're most interested in learning of applicable prevention and management actions you can take while enjoying these environments.
Please select the actions that you're willing to commit to.
Taking these actions helps to protect your favorite outdoor places from the impacts of invasive species.

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