Many of the plants that are now classified as invasive in New York state were introduced to the United States by gardeners as ornamental plants. As our climate changes, the places that plants find environmental conditions that favor them changes too.  Plants that may once have been reasonable to contain can become invasive in our area.

To be thoughtful about adding plants on your property that could in the near future present the threat of habitat degradation and the loss of species diversity, you can refer to the New York Natural Heritage Program's Invasive Species lists. Before you plant (or if you find a new plant growing on your property), select your geographical area, the type of species that interest you and allow all the Tier Value boxes to remain checked. Look through the list and find out if there is any risk associated with the plants you are considering and if so, how great the risk is in your area. The list is ranked from tier 1 (present in nearby areas but not yet in our area) to tier 4 (eradication not feasible). The full definition of each tier can be found here.

You can find a list of prohibited species, their history, habitat and how to identify them from the Lower Hudson Valley PRISM. 

If you are interested in planting native plants instead and wonder how to get started, please see our article  Where can I get help with adding native planting and lawn alternatives for the New York area? 

Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information