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!
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!).
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.
Native Alternatives:
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata): Replaces barberry’s winter color by holding onto brilliant red fruit clusters that sustain over 40 native bird species through freezing weather. Ecologically, its massive, water-loving root system thrives in damp areas to filter runoff, stabilize shorelines, and prevent soil erosion.
Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana): Replaces barberry’s dense, thorny barrier with a secure, protective nesting habitat for songbirds and small mammals. Ecologically, its open-faced summer flowers provide highly accessible pollen for native bees, while its extensive underground runners bind dry or sandy soil to halt erosion.
Invasive bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) might look charming with its twisting vines and bright berries, but it aggressively climbs and strangles trees, shrubs, and fences.
Native Alternatives:
Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana): This fast-growing vine replaces bittersweet by using gentle, twisting leaf stems to climb without strangling host trees. It supports local biodiversity by providing late-summer nectar for native pollinators and unique, feathery seed heads that songbirds use for nesting material.
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia): This vigorous climber offers dense foliage shelter and a brilliant red autumn display. It acts as a critical wildlife lifeline by hosting spectacular sphinx moth caterpillars and producing high-fat winter berries essential for migrating songbirds.
Wetland areas are especially vulnerable to species like yellow iris (Iris Pseudacorus), 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.
Native Alternatives:
Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor): Perfectly mimics the structural, sword-like foliage and semi-aquatic growth habit of yellow flag iris. Ecologically, it provides high-quality nectar to native bumblebees and hummingbirds without forming the dense, monoculture mats that choke out local fish and amphibian habitats.
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata): Replaces the tall, upright presence of Yellow Flag Iris in wet meadows and shoreline borders with candelabra-like spikes of blue-purple flowers. Ecologically, it is a powerhouse for biodiversity, supporting numerous specialized native bees and producing abundant seeds that serve as a vital food source for migrating songbirds.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Offers a stunning, high-contrast alternative to the bright yellow of the invasive iris with its intensely vivid, fire-engine red spikes. Ecologically, its deeply tubular flowers are specifically adapted as a critical late-summer energy source for the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and large swallowtail butterflies.
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.
Native Alternatives:
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae )
This keystone perennial replaces the cone-shaped spikes of the butterfly bush with a dense, six-foot-tall explosion of daisy-like, vivid purple flowers featuring bright golden centers. Unlike the invasive shrub, it safely hosts over 100 native caterpillar species and provides critical, late-season nectar for migrating Monarchs and bumblebee queens well into the autumn frost.
American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis )
Swapping out cone-shaped blooms for massive, lacy white flower this wide, s of this wide arching shrub brings a bold architectural presence to your landscape. While the butterfly bush produces no fruit, elderberry yields massive clusters of late-summer berries that feed dozens of bird species and features hollow winter stems that provide critical nesting sites for native bees.
Don’t overlook multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), a thorny shrub that quickly forms impenetrable walls and displaces native wildflowers.
Native Alternatives:
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius): This tough, fast-growing shrub mimics the 10-foot arching form of Multiflora Rose, exploding with white-to-pink spring blooms and decorative autumn seed pods. Its deep, fibrous roots aggressively stabilize steep slopes against erosion, while its dense branches provide safe nesting cover for local songbirds.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): Thriving in shady woodlands and damp borders, this lush shrub replaces invasive roses with early-spring yellow blossoms and a fragrant, deer-resistant canopy. It serves as the exclusive host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly and produces high-fat red berries that fuel migrating songbirds in autumn.
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.
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.
P2P Gardening 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!
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
Forests
Waters
Gardens
Communities
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!
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