Is it really an invasive plant?

Is it really an invasive?

As with any post, I write – I do some research.  Contemplating what to write next the week, I visited a blog I enjoy and read an article about plants not to have in the garden.

WOW!  Did this post bring a lot of comments, with emotion and in some cases, anger.

I’m reading the comments and thinking….you all need to chill.

Gardening to me is such a personal thing, much like how we decorate our homes or how we decorate ourselves.

I don’t like orange, not too fond of yellow.

 You might adore yellow – it’s sunny and cheerful to you.  So why would I write an article and tell you not to put yellow in your garden?

I think the problem with this post was there was no real depth to why this blogger recommended staying away from these perennials.

Some of them I agreed on but others?  I was like…what!? What do you mean Hollyhocks are invasive?  I can’t get them to grow one year much less reseed for years.

Most gardeners think mint is invasive.  In a lot of situations, it is.

Know where it isn’t?  Hot, dry soil with all day sun.  

I have been growing mint for 10 years in two different houses.  I give it full sun, little water – and it pretty much stays put.  

How strong is the flavor? I pick it in the morning and it’s pretty good. But! I pretty much grow mint for the bees and the fragrance – not for eating or making mint juleps

Context.  It’s so important.  

Where was this blogger’s garden?  Not in the same zone as mine or those of the naysayers.  Just about any plant can be invasive if the conditions are right.

Now – sooner or later it will jump the bed – but until then I will enjoy my periwinkle flowers.  I am 10 years in this home – so I don’t think it will be anytime soon.

I have been told that yucca is invasive.  

It’s in three different spots in my yard.  I hate yucca foliage. However, it’s doesn’t spread, it has an amazing flower and a deep root that I don’t want to mess with – so it stays.  And it stays in place.

Ajuga is another plant that people claim is invasive.

 Again – where are you growing it? I have three types of ajuga in my yard – and it’s not growing fast enough for me. It’s planted where I need a ground cover – so I don’t have to weed or mulch. There are some that are a gorgeous burgundy with wonderful purple spikes.  One that is almost a chocolate color with blue flowers and another one with tiny little leaves and flowers. I love all three and so far – they are all behaving.

I helped my brother with some landscaping in his house in North Carolina, I’m in Virginia.  

I love hellebores.

We bought a couple and put them in one of his beds in the backyard. Yikes!  It self-seeds like there is no tomorrow. But you know what? He is thrilled. It is filling in the bed, all the seedlings are different colors and he can enjoy all those early flowers.  The best part? He shares!

He brought me a flat of seedings and two large plants last year – I now have five clumps of hellebores flowering.  Some burgundy, some pink, a couple white and one with a bit of yellow. (gasp!)

Now, you might be the type of gardener who doesn’t want volunteers in your gardens.  That’s fine. The beauty of gardening is we all can have the type of garden we want.

Me?  I love volunteers.

 Fill in those empty spots, crowd out those weeds, give me some extra plants I can trade with my fellow gardeners. And maybe, when I get my side yard finished – I will pot some of those babies up and sell them from the nursery I am hoping to have.

It’s all about how you look at it, what you want.  

But that doesn’t mean we need to chastise each other about what we have in our garden.  You don’t like something – don’t plant it. Momma Nature needs all of us helping her out.

Just like people – if all our gardens looked the same – um, boring?

So know your zone, know the micro-climates in your yard and know your plants.  Then plant the right plant for you, in the right place.

And if you have some extras?  See if a friend or neighbor would like one.

Happy gardening.