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NATIVE REPLACEMENTS
for commonly planted invasives
INVASIVE: Nandina Domestica
Invasive shrub with toxic berries
NATIVE REPLACEMENT: Spicebush
Fragrant leaves you can make a tea with, has colorful red berries and attracts beautiful butterflies
NANDINA
INVASIVE: Forsythia
NATIVE REPLACEMENT: Spicebush
Fragrant leaves you can make a tea with, has colorful red berries and attracts beautiful butterflies
FORSYTHIA
INVASIVE: Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators but only at one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves.
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
Replace with Sweet Pepperbush
This beautiful shrub has fragrant white or pink flower spikes in the late summer and will grow in sun, part shade and shade as well as with clay soil. The plant will attract butterflies as well as birds including hummingbirds!
sweetpepperbush
sweetpepperbush
Replace with New Jersey Tea
New Jersey tea is a deciduous shrub that has white flowers which bloom in March and April. The flowers not only attract butterflies but the shrub is also an effective larval host plant as well. It’s thick roots make it able to withstand drought conditions but hard to transplant.
Replace with Buttonbush
This shrub can grow from 6-12ft tall and has white or pale-pink blooms that can last from June to September. Buttonbush is deer resistant, a good nectar source and will attract birds, bees and butterflies to your yard.
Blazing Star / Liatris Spicata
Liatris spicata, also known as Spike Gayfeather, is a tall, upright, clump-forming perennial which is native to moist low grounds, meadows and marsh margins. It typically grows 2-4' tall in cultivation, but can reach a height of 6' in some parts of its native habitat.
INVASIVE: Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators but only at one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves.
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
Replace with Sweet Pepperbush
This beautiful shrub has fragrant white or pink flower spikes in the late summer and will grow in sun, part shade and shade as well as with clay soil. The plant will attract butterflies as well as birds including hummingbirds!
sweetpepperbush
sweetpepperbush
Replace with New Jersey Tea
New Jersey tea is a deciduous shrub that has white flowers which bloom in March and April. The flowers not only attract butterflies but the shrub is also an effective larval host plant as well. It’s thick roots make it able to withstand drought conditions but hard to transplant.
Replace with Buttonbush
This shrub can grow from 6-12ft tall and has white or pale-pink blooms that can last from June to September. Buttonbush is deer resistant, a good nectar source and will attract birds, bees and butterflies to your yard.
Blazing Star / Liatris Spicata
Liatris spicata, also known as Spike Gayfeather, is a tall, upright, clump-forming perennial which is native to moist low grounds, meadows and marsh margins. It typically grows 2-4' tall in cultivation, but can reach a height of 6' in some parts of its native habitat.
INVASIVE: Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators but only at one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves.
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
Replace with Sweet Pepperbush
This beautiful shrub has fragrant white or pink flower spikes in the late summer and will grow in sun, part shade and shade as well as with clay soil. The plant will attract butterflies as well as birds including hummingbirds!
sweetpepperbush
sweetpepperbush
Replace with New Jersey Tea
New Jersey tea is a deciduous shrub that has white flowers which bloom in March and April. The flowers not only attract butterflies but the shrub is also an effective larval host plant as well. It’s thick roots make it able to withstand drought conditions but hard to transplant.
Replace with Buttonbush
This shrub can grow from 6-12ft tall and has white or pale-pink blooms that can last from June to September. Buttonbush is deer resistant, a good nectar source and will attract birds, bees and butterflies to your yard.
Blazing Star / Liatris Spicata
Liatris spicata, also known as Spike Gayfeather, is a tall, upright, clump-forming perennial which is native to moist low grounds, meadows and marsh margins. It typically grows 2-4' tall in cultivation, but can reach a height of 6' in some parts of its native habitat.
INVASIVE: Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators but only at one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves.
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
Replace with Sweet Pepperbush
This beautiful shrub has fragrant white or pink flower spikes in the late summer and will grow in sun, part shade and shade as well as with clay soil. The plant will attract butterflies as well as birds including hummingbirds!
sweetpepperbush
sweetpepperbush
Replace with New Jersey Tea
New Jersey tea is a deciduous shrub that has white flowers which bloom in March and April. The flowers not only attract butterflies but the shrub is also an effective larval host plant as well. It’s thick roots make it able to withstand drought conditions but hard to transplant.
Replace with Buttonbush
This shrub can grow from 6-12ft tall and has white or pale-pink blooms that can last from June to September. Buttonbush is deer resistant, a good nectar source and will attract birds, bees and butterflies to your yard.
Blazing Star / Liatris Spicata
Liatris spicata, also known as Spike Gayfeather, is a tall, upright, clump-forming perennial which is native to moist low grounds, meadows and marsh margins. It typically grows 2-4' tall in cultivation, but can reach a height of 6' in some parts of its native habitat.
INVASIVE: Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators but only at one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves.
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
Replace with Sweet Pepperbush
This beautiful shrub has fragrant white or pink flower spikes in the late summer and will grow in sun, part shade and shade as well as with clay soil. The plant will attract butterflies as well as birds including hummingbirds!
sweetpepperbush
sweetpepperbush
Replace with New Jersey Tea
New Jersey tea is a deciduous shrub that has white flowers which bloom in March and April. The flowers not only attract butterflies but the shrub is also an effective larval host plant as well. It’s thick roots make it able to withstand drought conditions but hard to transplant.
Replace with Buttonbush
This shrub can grow from 6-12ft tall and has white or pale-pink blooms that can last from June to September. Buttonbush is deer resistant, a good nectar source and will attract birds, bees and butterflies to your yard.
Blazing Star / Liatris Spicata
Liatris spicata, also known as Spike Gayfeather, is a tall, upright, clump-forming perennial which is native to moist low grounds, meadows and marsh margins. It typically grows 2-4' tall in cultivation, but can reach a height of 6' in some parts of its native habitat.
INVASIVE: Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators but only at one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves.
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reproductive success and dispersal means that Butterfly Bush replaces native shrubs outside the garden, in natural areas. It establishes in sunny, well-drained sites including fields, roadsides, woods edges, and riverbanks, where native shrubs would have grown. Those vanished native shrubs were essential food sources for caterpillars. Without caterpillars, there will be no adult butterflies. Without caterpillars, birds will not survive.
Replacements: Sweet Pepperbush, Buttonbush, New Jersey Tea, Blazing Star
Replace with Sweet Pepperbush
This beautiful shrub has fragrant white or pink flower spikes in the late summer and will grow in sun, part shade and shade as well as with clay soil. The plant will attract butterflies as well as birds including hummingbirds!
sweetpepperbush
sweetpepperbush
Replace with New Jersey Tea
New Jersey tea is a deciduous shrub that has white flowers which bloom in March and April. The flowers not only attract butterflies but the shrub is also an effective larval host plant as well. It’s thick roots make it able to withstand drought conditions but hard to transplant.
Replace with Buttonbush
This shrub can grow from 6-12ft tall and has white or pale-pink blooms that can last from June to September. Buttonbush is deer resistant, a good nectar source and will attract birds, bees and butterflies to your yard.
Blazing Star / Liatris Spicata
Liatris spicata, also known as Spike Gayfeather, is a tall, upright, clump-forming perennial which is native to moist low grounds, meadows and marsh margins. It typically grows 2-4' tall in cultivation, but can reach a height of 6' in some parts of its native habitat.